A participant at the Nocci stall in Balasore. Telegraph picture

Balasore, Nov. 29: An international exhibition-cum-conference, titled Plast Future East 2014, on plastics and polymers is under way at the town.

The North Odisha Chamber of Commerce (Nocci), in assocition with the state goverment, is organising the event, which was inaugurated last evening at the Balasore International Expo Centre.

Its aim is to give a platform to the plastic and polymer manufacturers.

Here they can showcase their products and improve their brand value.

The general manager of State Bank of India, Mohan Trivedi, inaugurated the exhibition. He said the plastic industry had ample scope to grow in the region.

“The average per capita consumption of plastic and polymer in the state is far lesser than that of India’s consumption. Hence, there is a lot of scope for growth. Even the banks are ready to extend help by providing loans,” said Trivedi.

District collector Sanatan Mallick said: “Balasore is almost at the centre of three state capitals. Bhubaneswar, Calcutta and Ranchi are not far away from here. Many other economic hubs, such as Jamshedpur and Kharagpur are close to Balasore. The plastic industry here has all the potential to grow since the district is well connected. Skilled manpower is also readily available.”

Raw material suppliers, machine manufacturers, technology providers from Bengal, Chhattisgarh, New Delhi, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are taking part in the exhibition.

Nocci convenor Amit Behera said the plastics industry in eastern India is growing at the rate of 9 per cent per annum as against 14 per cent at the national level.

The per capita consumption of plastics in the eastern region is 2.8kg against the national average of 8kg.

“The region will have strategic advantages in the near future,” he said.

“The Assam gas cracker project and Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited, along with the proposed petrochemical complex of Indian Oil Corporation Limited in Paradip, will be the game-changers and shift the focus of the plastic industry in the eastern states,” said a Nocci functionary.

“Such exhibition is organised to create a platform for corporates, policy-makers, business partners and technology providers to come together and discuss the key issues and challenges pertaining to the polymer sector in the country,” said Nocci president Devasis Mahanty.

Around 150 stalls have been set up in the international exhibition.