North East industry showcased at Mumbai chemical conference

North East industry was showcased at a conference in Mumbai, with many chemical executives from the region speaking at the event.

Over 200 leaders from the global chemical industry were in attendance at the 6th annuaI Indian Chemical Council (ICC) Industry Outlook Conference in Mumbai, organised in partnership with NEPIC.

Mr Indrajit Pal, Secretary of the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers of the Government of India was also present, alongside huge corporations such as DOW, Du Pont and Reliance.

Among the event’s speakers at the event at the Taj Mahal hotel, was Mr Ian Swales, MP for Redcar and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Chemical Industry.

Mr Swales told the audience: “Contrary to popular thinking the output of the Chemical industry in the UK has continued to rise year on year and we have a strong chemical sector, not least in the Northeast of England.

“ In fact, Europe is still the largest and most sophisticated market for chemicals and we recognise that a strong chemical industry underpins all other strands of a manufacturing economy.

“I am in India this week with a UK Trade and Investment Market Visit organised by NEPIC to carry a message that the UK Government is supportive of increasing the trade and investment on the chemical sector with India.”.t

Representatives from NEPIC, Newcastle University, Teesside University and local businesses also took to the stage.

Among them was Dr Stan Higgins, NEPICs CEO, who spoke about Chemical Economy of Europe, noting the impact of the growing economies of India and in particular China..

Newcastle University’s, Prof. Mike Green, explained how this new chemistry, leading to improved polymers was developed at from his experiences in South Africa prior to taking his position in Northeast England.

John Brady, NEPICs Senior Project Manager, told the audience how to develop a regional strategy for growth in the face of the global challenges and linked this to the development of a supportive innovation strategy.

Neil Moon of Agility Logistics took to the stage to describe how companies need to develop logistical strategies to effectively distribute their products to global markets.

Jonathon Atkinson of NEPIC Member Harrison Godard Foote, intellectual property specialists, described a recent success his company had had with an Indian company challenging the patent for Malarone, the antimalarial drug, against global giant GlaxoSmithKline.

Tom Porter, Commercial Director of Consett based Tomas Swan & Co, described how his company focused on innovative opportunities to expand their business.

NEPICs Stan Higgins closed the conference with a panel discussion with seven other European Clusters and with audience participation focused on the setting up and operating of effect cluster organisations.

Those businesses present were part of the NEPIC - UKTI Market Visit to India.

Neil Moon of Wilton based Agility Logistics, said: “I think the organisation of the ICC conference has improved substantially and I am sure that is in large part due to NEPICs influence.

“I think NEPICs encouragement of the ICC to take control of the event has reshaped it into a much more open and broad ranging dialogue.

“ I also thought that the presentation contributions from all the NEPIC delegates added a new dimension to the conference.

“I think they have done a great deal to demonstrate and promote the potential of the UK process industries as well as create the right environment for UK companies to reach out to this market.”