An Advanced Plastic Processing Technology Centre (APPTC), a unit of the CIPET set up at the Bampada Industrial Estate under Remuna block was inaugurated on Friday.
Union Minster for Chemicals and Fertilisers and Statistics and Programme Implementation Srikant Jena along with State Employment and Technical Education and Training Minister Pratap Kesari Deb were present during the ceremony. Both Ministers thanked both the Central and State Governments for establishment of the institute in a record time of about 18 months of foundation stone-laying.
“This institute will not only act as a training centre but also will function to support the local plastic industries for technical knowhow as well to provide trained personnel to them. There were demands for establishment of a CIPET unit in the district. Around 1,200 CIPET pass-outs have already got placement here. Recently, 27 of them were absorbed in companies of Dubai after campus selection.” Jena said. He also stressed on the need of a plastic park in Baleswar. “The Centre is ready to fund Rs 50 crore for this purpose. The State Government should provide 100 acres of land. We will find an anchor agency, be it Idco or any other undertaking, which would fund the rest required amount. Baleswar is a most suitable place for establishment of such a park because of good road and rail connectivity, industrial atmosphere and availability of manpower,” he said.
Deb said, “The people of Baleswar are very conscious. They have shown how the things can be done within a very short period if there is a will. Though Baleswar occupies the third position in term of industrialisation in the State, it has been a very favourite destination for the industries. The State Government has planned establishment of a skill development centre for tribal students near the APPTC here.” Besides top CIPET officials, Jaleswar MlA Debi Prasanna Chand, Remuna MlA Sudarshan Jena, ZP president Umilata Das and district Collector B Parameswaran were among others present.