International expo of ceramic and glass products planned

To be organised jointly by RIICO, CII and ICS in Jaipur 

Participants would include manufacturers, users and research and development institutions

Product range: sanitary wares, ceramic glass tiles, crockery, ceramic colours, glass articles

JAIPUR: Taking into account the premier position of Rajasthan in the ceramics and table ware industry, the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) and the trade organisations in the sector are planning a first-of-its-kind international exposition of ceramic, glass and allied products here in the last quarter of 2009-10.

A memorandum of understanding on the exposition, to be organised at RIICO’s Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP) in Sitapura near here was signed on Tuesday in the presence of RIICO chairman Sunil Arora, managing director Alok, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) regional director (North India) Charu Mathur and Indian Ceramic Society (ICS) president Swapan Guha. The exposition will be organised jointly by RIICO, CII and ICS.

Mr. Arora said the aim was to provide the right platform for Indian entrepreneurs to interact with the international community. The forum would give an opportunity to them to compare their present technology and marketing strategies with those of international players.

Mr. Alok said the participants would include international, national and State-level manufacturers, users like builders, architects and State Electricity Boards. Research and development institutions, equipment manufacturers and raw material suppliers among others would also take part in the event, he said.

The product range will include porcelain sanitary wares, ceramic glass tiles, tableware crockery, high-tension and low-tension insulators, ceramic colours, glaze manufacturers, ceramic decorating technology and facilities, high-tech and special ceramics, handicrafts ceramic and glass articles, acid basic and neutral refractories, all type of glass products, ceramic and glass raw material and adhesives, kiln designers, manufacturers and suppliers, industrial abrasives, gypsum plasters and sheets along with allied products.

“Rajasthan is the leader in the table ware industry producing 75 per cent of the country’s output. The State is well placed in the ceramic sector as all input raw materials are available in plenty,” Ms. Mathur said. Significant investments have taken place in the State in various sub-sectors like insulators, tiles and sanitary ware. Recently, Saint Gobain Glass India Ltd. has been allotted land to set up a green-field float glass manufacturing unit at Bhiwadi in Alwar district. “The ceramic industry has its own inherent advantages as the value addition and wealth creation in the sector are very high. Employment generation per unit of investment is much higher compared to most of the other industrial sectors,” Mr. Guha said.