Mumbai, Jan 7 (KNN)  With an aim to meet the increased consumption of packaging material that is likely, over the next decade, a four year degree programme in packaging technology and management will be offered by the Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) from 2015.

The four year B.Tech programme will be followed by an M.Tech programme, a research programme and a doctoral programme, said Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, E M Sudarsana Natchiappan.

Natchiappan laid the foundation stone for a new educational complex and international packaging centre here yesterday.

IIP that comes under the purview of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has been given ‘in principle’ approval to conduct such degree programmes and has been permitted to obtain recognition as deemed university.

According to reports, the Indian packaging industry’s annual will touch USD 32 billion by 2025 from the present USD 24.6 billion, the world packaging industry’s total turnover being approximately USD 550 billion. 

Also, the predicted growth rate of the packaging industry has been pegged at 15 per cent per annum.  Further according to a report of global management consulting firm, McKinsey and Company, the consumption of packaging material will grow enormously in India with the predicted ten times increase in middle class population by 2025.  This in turn will need more packaging professionals.

The courses that will be offered by IIP will go a long way to meet that need.

The Indian Institute of Packaging is a national enterprise set up in May 1966 by the Indian Packaging and allied industry and the Government of India, Ministry of Commerce.

The Institute's endeavour is to improve the standards of packaging needed for the promotion of exports and help create infrastructural facilities for overall packaging improvement in India through Research and Development, problem solving consultancy and testing, training and education, industrial co-ordination, information dissemination and other promotional efforts. (KNN/ES)