Say yes to biodegradable plastic: Suresh Prabhu

Mrityunjay Bose, DH News Service, Mumbai, Mar 22 2018, 16:07 IST

Union Minister for Commerce & Industry Suresh Prabhu. PTI Photo

While inaugurating CAPINDIA 2018, the third edition of the international Make in India show for exporters, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Suresh Prabhu said that we can say no to plastics, but we need to say yes to environment-friendly plastic, which is nothing but biodegradable plastic which can be recycled.

Stating that plastic has a tremendous growth potential, the minister said that if we don't use plastic, we will have to use timber, which in turn will lead to deforestation.

Prabhu said that India today can make all kinds of chemicals and that it is catering to domestic as well as global needs. He noted that India is the largest producer and exporter of agrochemicals.

Stating that India adheres to environmental norms as per international standards, he said that no business that is not environment-friendly can be carried out on a global scale.

Prabhu said that our forests are one of the richest in the world in terms of biodiversity.

The minister also added that the Indian industry needs to do far more in the mining sector.

He further said there is a need to spread the awareness across the industry that we would not be able to produce anything without mining. Mining, he said, is the basic ingredient which makes the industry work and it must be ensured that mining is undertaken by adhering to the highest environmental standards.

Underlining the importance even of post-mining activities, the Prabhu said that mining is necessary for sustenance and that mining and downstream activities can create huge opportunities in the service sector as well.