India Rubber Meet 2022 Begins at Kochi

The demand for natural rubber will skyrocket in the coming decades. According to Satish Sharma, Chairman of the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers' Association (ATMA), a sustainable and environmentally friendly planning is essential to bridge the country's ever-widening gap between NR production and consumption.

In Kochi, he was inaugurating the sixth edition of the 'India Rubber Meet 2022' via online mode. The tyre industry is undergoing rapid transformation. The circular economy is gaining strategic importance in the country and will take shape in a planned manner.

The industry has stepped forward to help primary producers meet the challenges of sustainability concerns. "The Rubber Board's 'NE-MITHRA' project for rubber planting in collaboration with ATMA is a unique and responsible attempt by the tyre industry to support rubber farmers," he said.

"The Rubber Board is celebrating its 75th anniversary, and we are also celebrating 'Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav,' which aims to make the country self-sufficient." "The Rubber Board's efforts to create a self-sufficient and sustainable rubber sector are commendable," said Sawar Dhanania, Chairman of the Rubber Board and President of the All-India Rubber Industries Association.

"The rubber industry was harmed by the Covid pandemic's ravages." “However, the sector demonstrated incredible resilience by quickly returning to normal levels. We recognized the importance of digital connectivity, which helped to alleviate some of the difficulties caused by the lack of physical movement of people and goods," said K.N. Raghavan IRS (Executive Director, Rubber Board), Chairman of the Organising Committee.

"Most importantly, the rubber sector must recognize the importance of sustainability and the need to protect nature and the environment for future generations," he added.

IRM 2022 was organised by the India Rubber Meet Forum (IRMF), a society formed by the Rubber Board and stakeholder associations in the rubber and related industries. The conference attended by farmers, traders, manufacturers, policymakers, agricultural workers, economists, journalists, and others involved in the rubber industry.