Date:22/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/02/22/stories/2005022201230200.htm

Back Chemicals expo opens tomorrow in Hyderabad

Our Bureau

(From right) Mr John Whitaker, Publishing and Exhibition Director, DMG WordMedia, UK, Mr Deepak Mehta, President, Indian Chemical Manufacturers Association, Mr Parthasarathi Reddy, President Bulk Drug Manufacturers Association, and Mr Ravi Raghavan, Editor, Chemical Weekly, at a press conference announcing the launch of ChemSpec India 2005, an International Exhibition on Fine and Speciality Chemicals on Monday in Hyderabad. - A. Roy Chowdhury

Hyderabad , Feb. 21

FOLLOWING the successful launch in China last year, ChemSpec, the dedicated global fine and speciality chemicals exhibition, is now coming to India for the first time at Hyderabad from Wednesday.

Announcing this at a press conference here on Monday, Mr John Whitaker, Publishing and Exhibition Director of DMG World Media (UK), the organisers of the two-day show, said the entire space at the HITEX Grounds here was sold out. As many as 210 companies from across the globe are participating in the expo. While 150 companies are participating from within the country, 60 firms from the US, Japan, China and Europe have confirmed their participation.

According to the President of Indian Chemical Manufacturers Association (ICMA), Mr Deepak Mehta, these companies trade in fine chemicals, active pharmaceutical ingredients, dyes and pigments, agrochemicals, water treatment chemicals, coating additives, catalysts and enzymes, among others.

Global fine chemicals firms participating in the show include Celanese, Lanxess, Clariant, Sigma-Aldrich, Albemarle, FMC Lithium and Chemetall.

Some of the domestic majors include Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Matrix Laboratories, Divi's Laboratories, Jubiliant Organosys and Zydus Cadila among others.

Appreciating the current size of the Indian speciality chemicals market at over $28 billion, Mr Mehta said the domestic industry now needs to work on strengthening the `made-in-India' brand by showcasing its strengths to the world.Hoping that major outsourcing opportunities would be thrown open to the Indian speciality chemicals industry, including the pharmaceuticals, the President of Bulk Drug Manufacturers Association (BDMA), Dr B. Parthasarathy Reddy, said the success of the first ChemSpec India show at Hyderabad with full occupation has exhibited the strengths of the Indian industry.