Ludhiana News/ Ravi Capoor asks industry to prepare comprehensive plan for R&D center

Ludhiana, November 26, 2013: Interactive session under the Chairmanship of Ravi Capoor, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce Govt. of India was held at UCPMA Hall here today wherein, Darshan Singh Joint Director D.G.F.T. Govt. of India & Bhaskar Sarkar, Executive Director, Secretary EEPC along with senior members of UCPMA were also present.
Charanjit Singh Vishivkarma President UCPMA and Joginder Kumar Chairman, S.C. Ralhan Chairman EEPC welcomed Capoor, Darshan Singh & Bhaskar Sarkar.
The issue of interest related to the exporters has been solved. The credit linked subsidy scheme limit needs to be enhanced to Rs. 5 crores but also lot needs to be alone to curb the import from China.
Joginder Kumar Chairman of the Association apprised Capoor that bicycle is the major industry of Punjab is concentrated in & around Ludhiana M/s Hero Cycles Ltd & M/s Avon Cycles Ltd. got the bicycle components developed from S.S.I. sector as manufacturing involves processes, as a result of which the cost has cut down & the difference was Rs. 100 per cycle in 1980.
Kumar also apprised that China is their main competitor & the domestic bicycle industries has adversely been affected to heavy import from China at under invoicing of hub cones , spokes, chain, baskets, chain-wheel & cranks steel balls, plastic handles saddles parts, peddle axle/ caliber brake parts and large numbers of units have been closed.
He also demanded that custom duty on parts should be raised to 50% from 20%. He also raised the issue of the imports of China an origin through APTA/SAPTA and demanded that the import through such routes should be banned or some corrective measures should be taken by the Govt. to curb such activities
He also demanded that the minimum floor rates should be fixed at Rs.80 per ton& Rs. 100 per Kg. for hard/tempered/electroplating/painting etc.& Rs. 150 per Kg for EN series.
Jagdish Singh of Eastman Industries Ltd. supported the cause of minimum floor price to be fixed to be curbed from China. He also demanded to take corrective steps to curb imports through SAPTA and across the board under invoicing. He also demanded that duty on capital goods should be provided to MSE for upgradation of technology & there should be no linkage of export obligation on 25% subsidy from SIDBI should also be provided.
Ravi Capoor while replying the interaction expressed deep concern of Bicycle industry. He asked the industry to identify products atleast 10 items wherein floor price can be fixed consultation with DGFT & EEPC. Rules of Origion are not followed & is being misused. Ravi Capoor asked the industry to upgrade the technology and how to upgrade technology on reverse engineering. He also stated that the government is ready to strengthen the R&D Center under ASIDE Scheme   & the association is ready for such R&D center which is for the industry as whole.
Ravi Capoor asked the industry to prepare comprehensive/proper plan for R&D center and funds are available for machines/equipments and labs etc. He strongly urged the industry as to how to compete as to be competitive is the main goal.
The following members were present in the meeting Inderjit Singh Navjug, Jagatbir Singh, Rajiv Jain,Pardeep Wadhawn, Baljeet Singh Lotey,Ajit Kumar, Achharu Ram Gupta, Varinder Kapoor, Manmohan Singh Ubhi, Avtar Singh Bhogal, J.R. Singhal, S.S. Bhogal, Jaswinder Singh Birdi, D.S. Dhiman of Ms. Avon Cycles, Rahul Kalra,Mamohan Singh Marton, Parveen Gupta, Harmohinder Singh Pahwa, Mukesh Airi, Rajesh Jain, Bimal Kumar, Amandeep Singh Shahpuri,Tirlochan Singh Matharoo, Tejbir Singh, Beantpal Singh, Daljit Singh DICO, Rajan Gupta, Chander Prakash Sabharwal, Rajinder Kumar Parrot, Valaiti Ram, autumn Engg.,Rajinder Singh Sarhali,Parmjit Singh G.M. R&D center for Bicycle & Sewing Machine.