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Dear Members,
WISH YOU HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR
The Indian chemical Industry comprises both small and large-scale units and enjoys abundant supply of basic raw materials and also produces a large number of fine and specialty chemicals, which have very specific uses and are essential for increasing industrial production. This find wide usage in a wide variety of industries.
Being the office bearers of this association, we consider it a great honour and our good fortune to serve the Association, which has a strength of more than 1800 members, comprising of leading importers, indentors, authorized stockiest of various producers, suppliers, and brokers dealing in dyes, chemicals, intermediates and allied products. Our members form the vital link in the supply chain between the manufacturers (local & overseas) & users (small & large) spread over the country.
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The Chemical industry is facing one of the most challenging times in global economic history. The Chemical market must be well prepared to meet the consequences and the aftermath of these tough times. It calls for closer working among us and for the sharing of experiences and ideas. The Chemical & Alkali Merchants' Association, the oldest trade association for the chemicals trade in the country, is taking steps to address the longstanding problem of identifying and creating an appropriate site for safe storage of chemicals and related products near the city of Mumbai. This is one of the most challenging and ambitious tasks ever under taken by any association in India, if not globally.
The project, now under the guidance of Shri Arun K. Doshi, has been in the marking for some time. We have started the project during the term of Shri Jayant Tolia, under painful circumstances, with many fire accidents in our warehouses in the Bhiwandi area and helpless or even unhelpful authorities. My predecessor, Shri Anil Bajaria has done much covering almost every square kilometer in Maharashtra in search of suitable land. I propose to do all that is feasible to bring to you this much awaited and much needed project.
There have been some questions and reservations expressed by some members about the progress and proposals so far made on the project. The Chem Care team will address these concerns thoroughly and take steps to ensure that all you needs - large and small -are met with the care, they rightly deserve. I hope to complete this project during my tenure by giving possession of the land to members and seek your good wishes for its success.
In the meantime, till Bhiwandi continues to be the preferred hub for storage of chemicals, CAMA has proposed to make arrangement to improve facilities available in the area from the fund created for proposed storage project.
The second phase of Antop Hill Warehousing Complex is on the verge of implementation and wait-listed members will have first priority for allotment of galas booked by them.
CAMA has a tradition of shouldering social responsibilities through periodic welfare measures and emergency relief works. Its welfare Trust has been rendering medical and educational assistance to the staff of members and needy. Medical assistance and medical care is a huge concern for the staff of many CAMA members. Being their employers and members of the CAMA it is our duty to ensure that the people who keep our companies running can avail of medical help when they need it the most. We proposed to set up a scheme by which our members' staff can get regular healthcare at reasonable rates by making available to them the services of qualified doctors, in or near the Vadgadi area, under the aegis of CAMA. The exact modalities of this scheme would be discussed by the Managing Committee to make it successful and useful.
There is a need to make the chemical trade an interesting and rewarding career for youngsters and proposed holding periodic seminars and lecture series covering various issues confronting the trade. We are witnessing many youngsters joining the chemical trade. We, as their seniors, should take it upon ourselves to educate and familiarize them with our businesses and processes. Many a times, we are so engrossed in daily activities that we seldom get any time to do this. We must recognize that these youth come from a different era of rapid economics growth and technical advancement, with different values and aspirations, but all very capable.
Initially, the association proposes to organize seminars addressing:
Safe storage & handling of chemicals.
Modalities of transportation & application.
Industrial applications of chemicals
Forex Management.
I propose to take assistance from members of the ICC, IRMA,ISSPA and other related associations to conduct these seminars. Publishers of various trade magazines, such as Chemical Weekly, have also assured us help in conducting such technical seminars.
This brings us to one very unfortunate aspect of our Trade. While CAMA boasts of a membership of over 1800, many of them in business for over 25 years, the numbers of members who regularly and deeply involves themselves in CAMA's activities is quite small. No doubt, the demands of current business are extreme, especially considering most of our establishments are family owned and run. Distances are another challenge while time is at a premium. However I earnestly request all our members, young and old, to volunteer for CAMA in whatever manner they can, on an ongoing basis bringing in more meaningful and unconditional involvement.
Let us believe in the power of CHANGE.
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