Friday, February 11, 2011

ECO-Products International fair in New Delhi, India to Promote Green Consumerism and ECO-Culture Across Nations

By Sameer  Pushp
New Delhi, India, Feb 9, 2011 (Washington Bangla Radio / PIB-India) Growing population resource imbalances and looming threat of global warming demands rising concerns for sustainable living, the choice is to go for eco-powered technologies, eco-products and clean eco-energy.  The need of the hour is to adopt an eco-powered life style and provide clean eco-energy with zero co-generated pollution. Clean energyenergy efficiency products and exchange the newer, cleaner and greener technology with the rest of the world. generation products wean you off the polluting or wasteful forms of energy and ensure our eco footprint enough to stomp out global warming.  As India graduates into a pulsating and growing economy, we are mindful of the pressing need to go for clean and green products. We also realize that the traditional methods and principles may become increasingly ineffective, therefore, need is to augment eco-productivity both at micro as well as macro level to realize our global competitive edge. Hence, India is organizing The 7th Eco-Products International Fair (EPIF-2011) to showcase its eco and
EPIF-2011 – to be inaugurated by Shri Anand Sharma, Minister for Commerce and Industry – from 10th to 12th February, 2011 in New Delhi at India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO). This fair is being jointly organized by Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Asian Productivity Organization (APO) –Tokyo, National Productivity Council (NPC), and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). This edition of EPIF would spin around the theme – “Green Productivity for Sustainable Energy and Environment”- with a parallel International Conference on the theme.
At the core, EPIF-2011 will revolve around eco-efficiency considerations and energy efficiency perspectives, which will be supported  by  principles  of  ecological  economics  and impinged by equations  of eco-financing and  investments  and returns  cycles. Strategic action by firms and stakeholders including consumers is increasingly focused on eco-design initiatives including product improvement, product– redesign, functional innovation and system innovation, etc. With a growing pull arising from accent on green procurement by firms and public sector entities. The future-scopes are green consumerism and green growth dynamics and emergence of eco-cities and eco-industrial parks that would foster an eco-culture across boundaries within one earth.
Eco-products are  defined  as  “products  and services  that   comply  with environmental regulations or are environment-friendly, reflecting manufacturers’  voluntary  efforts to  care  for  the environment.”  If we take a glance at the budget of India, at present, the contribution of renewable energy to the total energy production is under 4 percent.  The share of renewable energy in India’s energy output can increase to 10 per cent by 2015 and 15 per cent by 2020. As our conventional  energy  resources  are  getting  scarce, renewable  energy  sources  have  assumed  greater importance. So we need to change fast to balance our growing energy need and sustainable life.
EPIF-2011 is one of the largest international environment exhibitions in Asia and it will be showcasing the most advanced environment friendly technologies, products and services that enhance sustainable productivity and competitiveness. This Fair would provide opportunities to explore business collaborations and promote awareness of environment friendly products and services. This Fair will establish Green Purchasing Network and the launching of Eco-labelling schemes. A significant development would be to promote eco-materials, eco- components and eco-products; in this process, India will not only be helping environment but also be gaining a green corporate image in the market
The broad range of expected benefits that may arise from EPIF-2011 are:
·    Enhanced  scope  for  networking,  marketing  and  sales opportunities  with  global  Eco-product  producers  and information & media coverage to the products/services of the exhibitors  and  potential  ideas  for  innovative  green entrepreneurs.
·    Obtaining greater awareness and knowledge for identifying and using eco - products/services in day to day life for citizens and society at large.
·    Stimulating  industry,  governments  and  public  agencies  in devising/formulating schemes and policies to promote green procurement  mechanism  and  use  of  clean  and  green technologies.
·    Bring in focus on carbon and water - foot print actions for sustainable energy and environmental considerations.
·    Would lead to the release of  products produced by Asian Productivity Organization, Tokyo.
The lifeblood of EPIF-2011 is the concepts of sustainable development and sustainable living. Benefits of these energy efficient technologies and products ranges from: reduced production and operating costs to reduced environmental impacts. EPIF -2011 seeks to achieve not only ecological but sustainable harmony between growth and development. Our globally shared concern is we live qualitatively and each one uses his/her own share endowed by nature.  India by hosting EPIF-2011 is taking a strong step in this direction. More and more these kinds of events will promote a mass culture of sustainability which is without doubt a prudent investment for the future generations.
Disclaimer:  The writer is a freelance journalist and the views expressed by the author in this feature are entirely his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of PIB or WBRi.

Maha to set up Agro Economic Zones on lines of SEZs: Minister

Source: one india
Nanded, Feb 11 (PTI) Maharashtra is planning to set upAgro Economic Zones in the state on the lines of SEZs to boostagro processing industry in districts where agriculture andfarming form the backbone of the economy, Agriculture MinisterRadhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said today.

Buzz up!
Speaking at "Nanded Ahead", an investors meet organisedby the government, Nanded Chambers of Commerce and Industryhere, the minister said the agro processing policy would beannounced soon.


"The agro economic zones would be set up in districtsdepending on the kind of agriculture produce grown," he said.

Vikhe Patil said the Marketing ministry has already setup Terminal and Electronic markets to boost agro processing.

"The agro processing zones will be on the lines of SEZsand Nanded is a good alternative. Development is notrestricted to any particular region. Local entrepreneurs playa every important role in growth of the region and the needof the hour is to expand the MIDCs to accommodate more andmore local industries," he added.

Vikhe Patil called for the need to remove the mentalblock of being backward.

"What is important is that we need to look forwardtowards the road ahead," Vikhe-Patil, a close aide of formerChief Minister Ashok Chavan said.

Chavan is the chief patron of the two day ''Nanded Ahead''convention.

Vikhe-Patil attributed the development of Nanded toChavan and described him as a visionary leader.

The meeting assumes significance as it is being held inthe backdrop of the CBI naming Chavan as one of the accused inthe Adarsh housing scam and the former Chief Ministerattending a meeting of legislators, supporting him in anapparent show of strength. .

Contradictions of ‘development’ in contemporary India