Member Article

Chemical supply chain business seek Indian opportunities

A group of 16 North East firms involved in the chemical processing sector supply chain are heading to India in search of new opportunities for the region.

The delegation, lead by process industry cluster NEPIC and UKTI, will visit four regions key to Indian chemical and pharmaceutical production - including Mumbai, Pune, Bangalor and Orissa.

In Pune companies with innovative new products will visit 4 innovation centres run by Tata Corporation and Hikal, whilst in Bangalore those with logistics and educational interests will meet with businesses operating in the Karnataka region’s special economic zone of Mangalore SEZ.

During the visit to Orissa, the Indian Government will give NEPIC’s engineering members a unique insight into the work they are offering at the next Special Economic Zone in India – and in Mumbai, the delegation will attend the 7th Annual Chemical Indian Outlook Conference.

NEPIC have good links with the Indian Chemical Council (ICC), India’s chemical clusters and special economic development zones.

NEPIC CEO, Dr Stan Higgins, said: “Our long term relationships in India give NEPIC’s members unprecedented access to many business opportunities in a rapidly growing economy.

“Through are association with ICC, Plastindia and industry Clusters present there, we can help to de-risk first stage business meetings and make them far less hit and miss and potentially more productive.

“More and more North East companies are taking advantage of these opportunities, and I am pleased to see that several of our Business Acceleration for SME project members are joining our mission too.”

Shadow Industry Minister and Hartlepool MP, Iain Wright, is supporting the mission this year to promote the regions capabilities to potential investors and capture key messages from industrialists to take to Parliament.

He said: “I am determined to back local businesses as they seek to win work overseas. It is vital that local businesses think about exports to emerging markets throughout the world, and India is a good example of a vast and growing marketplace for British firms.

“In recent years I have hosted several NEPIC, UKTI and Indian Chemical Council organised trade missions in my constituency.

“Teesside is an attractive location for investment in the chemical, engineering and manufacturing sectors and I want to ensure that Indian companies are aware as to how our area is open for business, investment and trade.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .