BPF Develops Anglo Indian Trade

A BPF co-ordinated delegation secured a high profile at the triennial Plastindia fair, which ended this week in New Delhi, India.

Eighteen UK companies defied adverse British weather conditions to take up a central position in Hall 12 at the Pragati Maidan exhibition centre. They were accompanied by the BPF managed, RAPRA- sponsored, Inward Mission of 15 UK plastics industry specialists.

At the fair the BPF signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Plastindia Foundation, the show organisers, to develop deeper contact by developing fora bringing UK and Indian companies together.

Plastindia President, Mr Arvind M Mehta, said ''Britain is first in the line to do business with the Indian plastics industry. We need your innovation and technology''

"A huge number of Indian businessmen visited the BPF stand", said BPF's Public and Industrial Affairs Director, Philip Law. "The market stands at over 6 million tonnes, per capita consumption is relatively low and can only go upwards. Benefiting from very high personal savings ratios the Indian banking system appears to be sound and large numbers of multinational OEMs are here. The industry is rapidly growing in sophistication.UK firms must be here in force".

At the BPF's RAPRA sponsored evening reception, attended by over 100 delegates, including a strong Indian contingent, the BPF expressed its appreciation to UK T&I for its funding. BPF Director General, Peter Davis, said "The BPF hopes that the resurgent interest in manufacturing will lead to greater funding for exporters in the plastic sector. With the currency at a low point exporters have a significant advantage they should exploit now".

The UK presence also featured a Polymer Innovation Network seminar 'A Showcase of UK Innovation in Plastics' at which Napier University, Gas Injection, London Metropolitan University, Safeglass Europe, Rapstrap and the BPF presented.

The Plastindia board released provisional attendance figures of over 100,000 visitors. Daily visitor rates fluctuated between 12,000 and 30,000.This would confirm Plastindia's claim to be the second largest plastics trade fair in the world.

Brian Mann, MD of McKechnie Plastic Components and a participant in the Mission, said "We established a network of prospective tooling partners linked with Tata in the UK, the owners of Jaguar LandRover, with the view to forming partnerships in future projects. The exhibition presented a unique opportunity to meet with a multiplicity of possible partners".

Liam Hassock, representing Victory Lighting, said "Made in Britain is a quality eagerly sought by Indian companies. This is a message that needs to be driven home in the UK".

Andy Jewell of Mattec said "The BPF provided the opportunity to participate in a well-branded, high profile group".

Mark Smith, a Director of PTL, commented that "Participation in the BPF pavilion proved well worthwhile. The numbers of contacts and networking opportunities have been outstanding".

Dean Lovell of Zotefoams said "We see great opportunity in India for medical and transportation markets. We have seen a much higher quality of enquiry than 3 years ago".