Conference on Agrochemicals
January 12th & 13th, 2006 in Mumbai

Conference on Agrochemicals was organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) jointly with Dept of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Govt of India on January 12-13, 2006 at Hotel Le Royal Meridien, Mumbai.

The theme of the Conference on Agrochemicals was "Strategies for Globalisation and Increasing Competitiveness of the Indian Agrochemical Industry".

Mrs. Satwant Reddy Secretary, Dept. of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, GoI inaugurated the conference, and delivered the Keynote address. Mr. H.F. Khorakiwala, Sr. Vice President, FICCI, delivered the welcome address.

Mr. Vivek Bharati, Advisor, FICCI, delivered the concluding remarks.

The conference had 35 speakers and around 200 delegates registered at the conference. Other eminent dignitaries on the dais were Dr Sandhya Kulshrestha, Secretary, Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee (CIB & RC), Ministry of Agriculture, GoI, Dr J S Maini, Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, GoI, Mr Ashish Bahuguna, Joint Secretary, Dept of Agriculture, GoI, , Mr. Rajju Shroff, CMD, United Phosphorus Ltd, Mr. P. Majumdar, President, Croplife India Ltd & Executive Director, Syngenta India Ltd Mr. Raju Kapoor, Business Unit Head, Agrovet Divn, Jubilant Organosys Ltd., Dr. Venkatrao S. Sohoni, Mg. Director, Rallis India Ltd., Dr. C.D. Mayee, Chairman, Agriculture Scientific Recruitment Board (ASRB), GoI, Mr. R.G. Agarwal, Chairman, Crop Care Federation of India & Chairman, Dhanuka Group, Ms. Sandra Shroff, Vice-Chairman, United Phosphorus Ltd., Mr Jai Hiremath, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Hikal Ltd., Mr D G Shah, Secretary General, Indian Pharmaceuticals Alliance (IPA), Mr Pradeep P. Dave, President PMFAI & Chairman & Mg Director, Aimco Pesticides Ltd Dr Raman Ramachandran, CEO-Agricultural Products, BASF India Ltd, Dr S Ramarethinam, Director-Projects, T Stanes & Co Ltd, Dr S S Pillai, Vice President-Bioproducts, E I D Parry (India) Ltd, Cheminova India Ltd.

The conference was spread over 2 days and had 8 sessions on different issues ranging from "Emerging Trends, Challenges, opportunities for the Indian Agrochemicals Industry", "Agrochemical Industry and Sustainable Development", " Research and Development of New Molecule", "Agrochemical Molecules Registration-A Global View", " Tapping the Generics Market", " Crop Protection-Focus on Biopesticides and Biofertilisers", " Impact of TRIPS on Indian Agrochemical Industry" etc.

The gathering consisted of CEOs and top officials from the chemical companies, research analysts, marketing professionals and consultants and academicians.

The conference provided a unique opportunity to highlight the business opportunities in this industry and assess the competitiveness of the Indian Agrochemical Industry. There was also deliberation on the regulatory regimes and the marketing techniques and strategies that need to be undertaken to enhance competitiveness.