Tag Archive: India

Cement is one of the main industries that plays a pivotal role in the growth and expansion of a nation. The cement industry is one of the main beneficiaries of the infrastructure boom in the country. The Indian cement industry is huge, and it has great production capacity. Currently, the total capacity of cement industry is about 165 million tonnes, which is the second largest in the world.

Cement is one of the vital constituents that is required for every construction purpose, such as industrial, housing, and also for construction of infrastructures, such as roads, ports, bridges, power plants, and so on. Thus, the cement industry is a significant contributor to the revenue collection of the government.

In India, the cement industry in the initial stages grew very slowly and the supply struggled to meet the demands. However, the scenario changed drastically after the liberalization period. The cement industry began to grow and since then the supply of cement has always managed to keep pace with its demand.

Today, the cement industry in India is one of the most advanced and pioneering sectors in the country, and the cement industry has a huge potential for growth and attracting new investments. The cement industry in India uses the most modern and world-class technology. Also, because India has a high quantity and quality of limestone deposits throughout the country, the cement industry promises huge potential for growth.

The government of India has set ambitious plans to increase the production of cement in the country, and to attain the target the government has made huge investments in the sector. The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, which falls under the central Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is the agency that is responsible for the development of the cement industry in the country. The agency is actively involved in keeping track of the performance of cement companies in the country and provides assistance and suitable incentives when required by the company. The department is also involved in framing and administering the industrial policy for foreign direct investments in the sector. Apart from formulating policies, the department also promotes the industry to attract new foreign investments in the sector.

The Department of Industrial policy and promotion plays an active role in promoting foreign investment in India in the cement industry by providing useful information to the investors about the investment climate and opportunities in India. The department also provides advice to prospective investors on various policies and investment procedures.

In order to promote investment in the sector, this department has greatly emphasized the development of good transportation facilities to ensure smooth transportation of bulk cement. It also aims to support the investors by providing them with R&D facilities and technological assistance.

The cement industry in India has been attracting several top-notch cement companies worldwide, which reflects the fact that this industry holds huge potential for investment. Also, due to the boom in the housing sector world-wide and the increased activity of the development of infrastructure, the demand for cement is set to increase globally. Thus, the investors having nothing to lose and are all set to benefit from investing in Indias cement industry.

Despite the lull in the real estate sector and the subsequent reduced demand, the asbestos cement sheet industry has managed to record a healthy growth rate of 10-12% per annum.

The slowdown in construction activity has failed to dampen the spirits of SMEs that constitute the bulk of the sector as they continued to receive a steady flow of business.

Experts believe that the high growth rates clocked by the sector have been mainly possible due to the sustained demand in the rural sector, which accounts for over 50% of the market for the asbestos industry.

Succeeding despite odds

Though last year saw a spurt in campaigns against the use of asbestos products in India, SMEs in the industry continued to witness a surge in the demand for their products. Small vendors providing roofing material to the rural population remained relatively unfazed by the adverse effects of the downturn and the campaigns.

Even though the construction sector has taken a hit due to the slowdown, the demand for asbestos products has not been affected. We have continued to see good margins and increased offtake despite worsening economic conditions, said T Sohangpurwala, proprietor of Calcutta Asbestos & Belting Company, a small-sized asbestos supplying firm in Kolkata.

The asbestos industry in India is projected to see a steady demand in the next few years as well. A new report from the Asbestos Cement Products Manufacturers Association (ACPMA), the chief organisation aimed at promoting chrysotile asbestos cement in India, predicts good times ahead for the SMEs in the sector.

Despite campaigns seeking a ban on the use of chrysotile asbestos, the demand for asbestos cement will remain steady as very few products can compete with it in terms of price and durability when it comes toroofing houses, said A Modi, Chairman of India Asbestos Manufacturing Company, a small-sized asbestos cement manufacturing unit in Jaipur. Asbestos is one of the best roofing options in rural India as it costs less than a third of the equivalent quantity of steel sheeting.

Although the outlook of the asbestos cement sheet industry looks positive, small vendors need to exercise prudence at present. They must also ensure that their manufacturing processes are clean to guarantee the safety of their Products.