IndiaChem 2006
November 8-10, 2006, Mumbai

Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Government of India organized INDIACHEM 2006, the international exhibition and conference on Chemicals, Petrochemicals, Pharmaceuticals and Technologies, Process Plant Machinery, Control and Automation Systems from November 08-10, 2006 at Mumbai. This follows the immense success of the earlier editions of IndiaChem at New Delhi in 2000 and 2002 and the third at Mumbai in 2004.

The theme of the Conference was "Building Capabilities through Innovation and Technology Exchange".

Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Hon'ble Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers, Govt. of India inaugurated the conference, and delivered the keynote address. Mr H F Khorakiwala, President (Elect), FICCI & Chairman, Wockhardt Ltd, delivered the welcome address. Mr Mauro Agostini, Foreign Trade Under Secretary, Govt of Italy, delivered a special address. Dr Amit Mitra, Secretary General, FICCI, moderated the inaugral session.

Mr. D. C. Mehta, Chairman, National Chemicals Committee, FICCI & Managing Director, Deepak Nitrite Ltd, delivered the concluding remarks.

The conference had 52 speakers and around 400 delegates participated at the conference. Other eminent dignitaries on the dais during the Inaugural Session were Mrs. Satwant Reddy, Secretary, Dept. of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, GoI, Mr. Tokio Niikuni, Managing Executive Officer, COO, Chemical Derivatives Div., Petrochemicals Segment, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Japan,.

Some of the eminent speakers at the conference were Dr C Fernandez, Additional Secretary & DGAD, Dept. of Commerce, GoI, Shri R K Vaish, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, GoI, Shri D S Solanki, Export Commissioner, Central Board of Excise & Customs, GoI, Shri S S Sandhu, Zonal Joint Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), GoI, Shri Sanjay Rastogi, Export Commissioner, DGFT, GoI, Shri G. S. Sandhu, Joint Secretary, Deptt of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, GoI, Mr. D. G. Shah, Secretary General, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), Dr. J M Khanna, Executive Director & President-Life Sciences, Jubilant Organosys Ltd., Mr K Govindarajan, Executive Director-Petrochemicals, IOCL, Mr. Rene van Sloten, Director, International Trade & Competitiveness,European Chemical Industry Council, Brussels, Belgium, Dr. Milind Joshi, President-Global Regulatory Management, J B Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Mr Praneet Singh, Executive Director, Nicholas Piramal India Ltd., Dr. Gregg Zank, Vice President, Chief Technology Officer, and Executive Director of Science & Technology, Dow Corning, USA, Mr Jai Hiremath, Vice Chairman & Mg Director, Hikal Ltd., Dr. Ashis K. Mukherjee, Chief Scientific Officer, Shasun Chemicals & Drugs Ltd., Dr S P Singh, President R & D, Dishman Group, Ms. Lyn Tattum, Publisher, Chemical Week, UK, Mr. Pavan Kumar, Mg. Director, Rohm and Haas (I) Pvt. Ltd., Dr. Robert Bloodworth, Head of Procurement, Saltigo GmbH, Germany, Mr S.C. Sekaran, Mg Director, Hindustan Dorr-Oliver Ltd, Mr P D Samudra, Executive Director, Uhde India Ltd., Mr. Pothen Paul, MD & COO, Kvaerner Powergas India Pvt. Ltd., Dr. Sukumar Devotta, Director, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Mr. S K Hazra, Mg. Director, Aegis Logistics Ltd. & & Chairman- Safety, Health & Environment Expert Committee, Indian Chemical Council (ICC), Ms. Sandra Shroff, Vice Chairman, United Phosphorus Ltd., and Mr. Rajan Kohli, Dy. Secretary General, FICCI.

Mr. Vittorio Mecozzi, Trade Commissioner, Italian Trade Commission, delivered the Concluding remarks.

The conference was spread over 3 days and had 11 sessions on different issues ranging viz. "Investment Opportunities in Gujarat-Chemicals, Petrochemicals& Pharmaceutical Industry", "Growth Strategies & Issues affecting India's Competitive Advantage in Chemicals, Petrochemicals & Pharmaceuticals", "Strategic Alliances in Generic Marketing", "Investment in R & D in Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology", "Contract Research & Manufacturing (CRAM)", "Growth & Opportunities for Specialty Chemicals", "Global Opportunities for Process Plant Manufacturers",etc.

The gathering consisted of Chief Executive Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Head- R & D, Technocrats, Policy Makers, Business Development and Marketing Professionals, Alliance Managers and Consultants from various Chemical, Petrochemical, Pharmaceutical and Process Plant Machinery industries.

The conference provided a unique opportunity for the Indian and International speakers to gain insights on new strategies on cost optimization, implementing new R & D models, efficient management of outsourcing relationship and developing productive alliances. There was also a thought provoking Panel Discussion on policy issues. It also provided the movers and shakers of the industry to discover solutions to grow their business opportunities and a platform to identify the various impediments to the growth and functioning of the industry. The conference also highlighted the possibilities of bridging the gag between Indian and Global companies by exploring the possibilities of mergers, joint ventures, and setting up of R & D base and strategic alliances.