Bahadurgarh shining with plastic support

Mar 2, 2013,

BAHADURGARH: Bahadurgarh is known for its footwear business, but the backbone of the business is the self-sufficient plastic industry, which has been generating nearly 20 per cent of the net revenue for the industrial city.

Around 100 plastic moulding units support to not just the footwear units but to other existing industries in the region, generating job opportunities for around 2,000 people. Nearly 25 per cent of its revenue (Rs 300 crore) is generated through exports.

SUPPORT TO OTHER INDUSTRIES

Vipin Bajaj, president of the Bahadurgarh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) said, "Plastic is required in majority of the business segments. The plastic moulding industry in the region supports industries such as, electrical components, footwear, auto components, road safety tools, insulator, and telecommunication. It also provides support to the ministry of defence and railways."

Bajaj, who is also the president of the Plastic Moulding Cluster in Bahadurgarh further added, "Apart from working as vendors to these industries, the plastic moulding industry produces air cooler pumps, hangers, furniture, road barricades and reflectors."

OP Gupta, chairman, Diamond Group of Industries (a leading footwear firm of Bahadurgarh) agreed with Bajaj and added, "Major reason behind the success of footwear industry in Bahadurgarh, is the self sufficient plastic industry of the region."

The former president of All India Plastic Industry further added, "Plastic plays a major role in the footwear industry. Its presence in the region has made business smooth and cost effective. Therefore, a majority of footwear companies have entered Bahadurgarh and made it a footwear hub in the past decade." Gupta went on to add that the plastic industry is Bahadurgarh provides support to the footwear industry in West Delhi as well.

MONETARY STATUS

Asked about the business generated by the plastic moulding industry of Bahadurgarh, Bajaj said, "There are around 100 operational units, which generate around 20 per cent of the net revenue generated in Bahadurgarh. As per the Sales Tax office report, the office has collected Rs 300 crore as sales tax from the local industries in the last fiscal. Therefore, the net revenue of the city would be around Rs 6,000 crore. Since, plastic moulding industries are generating 20 per cent of it, the net revenue generated by the plastic industry would be around Rs 1,200 crore."

Praveen Garg, general secretary, BCCI said, "Around 25 per cent of the plastic industry's revenue comes from the global merchandise. Hence, the industry is generating around Rs 300 crore through exports. As per BCCI records, Bahadurgarh-based units have exported to nearly 70 countries in the past year, mostly to the US, Canada, Europe and West Asia."

Giving insight of the job opportunities being created by the plastic moulding units, Praveen Garg said, "On an average, one plastic moulding unit requires around 20 direct employees."

While the industry supports the other businesses in Bahadurgarh, Bajaj attributes the success of the plastic moulding industry to the units that manufacture plastic moulding machines in the region. "There are around 20 such units, which make work easier for the plastic moulding industries," concluded VipinBajaj.