West Bengal's Plastic Industry Flourishes as State Recovers 500 Acres Land for New Factories

Kolkata, Jul 9 (KNN) West Bengal's plastic industry is experiencing a surge in growth, outpacing national averages and positioning itself as a key player in the state's industrial landscape.

This development comes as the state government unveils initiatives to support industrial expansion, particularly benefiting the plastic sector.

Lalit Agarwal, President of the Indian Plastics Federation, reported an impressive growth rate of 12 per cent to 15 per cent for the state's plastic industry, significantly surpassing the national average of 6 per cent to 7 per cent.

"Plastic manufacturers constitute about 90 per cent of the MSME sector in the state. Besides, big players are also expanding in Bengal," Agarwal stated, adding, "We can foresee that the future of the plastic industry is in eastern India", reported TOI.

State Industry Minister Shashi Panja revealed on Monday that the government has recovered approximately 500 acres of land from closed industrial units, which will be made available to new industries, including plastic manufacturers.

The move comes after CM Mamata Banerjee’s announcement that the state would reclaim unused land meant for industrial purposes during the unveiling of INDPLAS'25, a major plastics exhibition scheduled for February 28 to March 3 next year at the Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan.

"We are identifying unused land along the state and national highways," Panja said, noting that plastic manufacturers are particularly interested in locations near Kolkata, including Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, and South 24 Parganas.

However, the industry faces challenges as it grows. Ashok P. Jajodia, chairman of the INDPLAS'25 exhibition, highlighted the need for a deep-sea port to facilitate raw material imports and finished product exports.

Minister Panja also addressed concerns about unregistered plastic units, confirming that these are under government scrutiny to ensure compliance and fair competition within the industry.

As the plastic sector continues to expand in West Bengal, particularly in eastern India, these government initiatives and infrastructure developments may prove crucial in maintaining the state's competitive edge.

(KNN Bureau)