The packaging sector in the country offers huge career opportunities. “There is a life beyond careers in the information technology sector. Jobs in packaging sector can fetch you as much salary as one gets in the IT industry,” Chandrasekhar Sripada, President and Global Head of Human Resources of Dr Reddy’s, has said.

Addressing a seminar on job opportunities in the packaging industry here on Saturday, he asked students to choose emerging careers in sectors like packaging. “From pin to pen to plane, everything needs to be packaged well. In an era of e-commerce, every single product is attractively packed and delivered,” he said.

The seminar was organised by the Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP), an autonomous body under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

“When more and more people begin to buy things online, you need to have more skilled personnel in the sector to meet the demand,” he said.

IIP Director NC Saha said that the institute was likely to get Parliament nod as an institute of national importance. “We have written to the Union Commerce Ministry to that extent, and we are confident of getting the tag,” he said. The institute is planning to launch B.Tech, M.Tech, Ph.D programmes in Packaging Technology and Management from the next academic year, a statement quoting him said.

He said the institute will; soon have a chapter in the new State of Andhra Pradesh, in Visakhapatnam.