New Delhi: The Indian Earthmoving and Construction Industry Association Ltd (IECIAL) today adorned its new avatar as ICEMA or Indian Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association and launched its new logo at a function here today, thereby aligning itself with global industry bodies and expanding the scope of its activities
 
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Ajay Shankar, Member-Secretary, National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council, said the industry is poised for growth in the coming four decades but it needs to become globally competitive. Members raised a red flag about the possible flooding of Chinese equipment into the Indian market given the 40% reduction in China’s domestic demand. In response, Mr Shankar suggested that the industry consider the WTO-accepted route of safeguard duty along with anti-dumping rules.
 
Another key challenge discussed was regarding skill development so as to meet the industry’s need for an estimated 1 lakh trained operators and 3 lakh trained mechanics by the year 2020.
 
Mr S. Sundareshan, Secretary, Department of Heavy Industry, informed that the Planning Commission had accepted most of the recommendations of the 12th Plan Working Group on Capital Goods & Engineering Sector and now specific schemes were to be developed to address issues of technology, skill development, financing, etc. He assured the participants that the notification restricting the import of second hand equipment was on the anvil.
 
Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, DG, CII, said that the CII was considering setting up a sector skills council for the construction industry and hoped to work closely with the ICEMA in this regard, He added that policy inputs from the IECIAL were always critical to CII activities and hoped for greater interaction with the association as ICEMA.
 
Earlier, welcoming the participants, Mr Glenville da Silva, Chairman, ICEMA, pointed that the sector is expected to grow at 19-22 per cent CAGR in the next eight years. Growth in the construction equipment industry is linked to the overall level of infrastructure development as well as growth in construction activity.
 
An interactive Q&A session was followed by a vote of thanks by Mr Amit Gossain, Vice Chairman, ICEMA. Affiliated to CII, the ICEMA represents 44 leading companies who manufacture, trade and finance a variety of products such as hydraulic excavators, wheel loaders, backhoe loaders, motor graders, vibratory compactors, cranes, dump trucks, forklift trucks, dozers, pavers, concrete pumps, transit mixers, batching plants, crushing & screening equipment, diesel engines, etc.