The Gujarat Government on Thursday announced setting up of an internationally-recognised industry-specific university — Plast India International University — to come up at Vapi in south Gujarat. The proposed university will also get association from The University of Massachusetts Lowell, US.

Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel announced the government’s decision to set up the university in Vapi. “Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) will allot 40 acres of land at concessional rates for this university. This is aimed at creating skilled workforce for the requirement of the plastics industry,” Patel said at an industry event here. The State currently houses about 6,500 units of plastics processing and machinery with annual turnover of about ₹2,400 crore and providing employment to about 61,000.

Centre of excellence Also, the State government has planned to set up a Centre of Excellence for the automobile sector in cooperation with Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology (CIPET) and MS University, which will also facilitate innovation and incubation assistance.

Patel further mentioned the State will set up a vocational training centre for tribal population at Dharampur in Valsad district to provide skill training with the help of the Tribal Development Department.

To further boost plastics processing in the country and encourage exports, the Union Government has initiated several measures as part of the ‘Make in India’ campaign.

Surjit Chaudhary, Secretary, (C&PC), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, Government of India, maintained that India’s net exports have not increased over the years, while net Indian imports have increased by 12 times.

“Government of India is fully committed to reduce this gap through ‘Make in India’ campaign,” said Chaudhary, holding administrative blockages responsible for stagnation of this sector.

He expressed the need to boost plastics industry in the country and further advance the per capita consumption of plastic. India consumes 9 kg per year against 90 kg in China and 120 kg in the US.

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