(plasteurope) -- The commerce ministry of India has agreed in principle to accept the packaging industry's proposals for enhancing the country's packaging standards. The 10 proposals by the India Institute of Packaging, Mumbai include establishment of a food packaging laboratory, a flexible intermediate bulk container testing laboratory at Chennai and an international packaging centre in Mumbai.
India's domestic packaging sector, which accounts for 10% of the global market, is expected to see growth rates of about 18% to reach a value of USD 40 bn by 2015. According to a recent report by PCI Films Consulting (Guilsborough, Northamptonshire UK), demand for flexible packaging in the country will be driven by economic growth, a rise in the production of processed foods and a rise in retailing operations. The country's packaging production runs mainly on imported machinery, with the USD 125m import total being supplied by Germany, Korea and China.
Speaking at Indiapack, J.K. Dadoo, joint secretary to the commerce ministry, said the anticipated rise in food consumption in the country, expected to touch USD 240 bn by 2013, will necessitate innovative packaging solutions, especially as regards ⌠heat and eat food products.