The consistent growth trajectory in the export of cosmetics and toiletries could be exploited by entrepreneurs of Madurai region, which has good potential for the essential oil industry, according to Smita Samant, Executive Director, Basic Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics Export Promotion Council (CHEMEXIL).
Addressing reporters here on Saturday, Ms. Smita said that the export of cosmetics and toiletries was registering a growth of around 20 per cent every year. From around Rs.1,000 crore in 2001, it had touched Rs.4,000 crore in 2009. The region, which grew jasmine, rose and other flowers, could make use of the favourable trend on the export front. Though the country consumed 60 per cent of the cosmetics produced locally, the industry was still deficient in packaging and display.
The producers should be enabled to sell their produce directly to the industry without the involvement of middlemen. Farmers should also be empowered to add value to their produce. The Union Government, she said, had come out with schemes like Market Development Assistance (MDA) and Market Access Initiative (MAI) in order to propel growth of export. Under the MDA, financial assistance was provided for participate in trade delegations and exhibitions abroad.
Catalyst
The MAI was an export promotion scheme envisaged to act as catalyst to promote India's exports on a sustained basis. The scheme followed a ‘focus country-focus product' approach to evolve specific market and specific product through market study and survey. Assistance was provided for export promotion organisations, trade promotion organisations, national-level institutions, research institutions, universities, laboratories and exporters for improvement of exports.
On the potential for the proposed Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR) in Tamil Nadu, the Executive Director of CHEMEXIL said that the State could capitalise on the strategic location of its ports to get naphtha and crude oil, the food stock for basic chemicals, from outside.
It could enter into a strategic tie-up with Petronas of Malaysia.
Good demand
Tamil Nadu, she said, had a good demand for dyes for its textile and automobile industries. At present, dyes were procured from Gujarat. Later, addressing a meeting organised by the Madurai District Tiny and Small Scale Industries Association (MADITSSIA), Ms. Smita said that the global scenario of chemical industry was encouraging. She also explained the salient features of MAI and MDA. N. Somasundaram, president, MADITSSIA, welcomed the gathering. V. S. Manimaran, secretary, proposed a vote of thanks.
