India's plastics industry took a significant step towards strengthening its global presence with the successful inaugural edition of PLEXCONNECT 2026, organised by the Plastics Export Promotion Council (PLEXCONCIL) under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, in association with the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology (CIPET).
The conference, themed "India's Future in Polymers, Innovation & Export Growth," brought together more than 200 policymakers, exporters, industry experts, financial institutions, technology providers and MSMEs to discuss strategies for accelerating India's plastics exports.
Shri Pradeep Yadav, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, MSME Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, said the state's strong manufacturing base, modern port infrastructure and thriving MSME ecosystem position it as a major hub for value-added plastic exports.
Christophe Bramoulle, Deputy Consul General and Head of the Bureau of France in Chennai, highlighted the growing India-France partnership and the opportunities likely to emerge through closer India-EU economic cooperation. Smt. Rajalakshmi Devaraj, IDAS, Additional Director General of Foreign Trade, urged exporters to capitalise on India's Free Trade Agreements by enhancing quality, innovation and regulatory compliance.
A major highlight of the event was the release of the publication "Unlocking Global Opportunities for India's Plastics Industry," jointly published by PLEXCONCIL and the Southern India Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI).
The conference featured expert discussions on Free Trade Agreements, export finance, petrochemicals, engineering plastics and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). PLEXCONCIL also announced that the second edition of PLEXCONNECT will be held in July 2027, reaffirming its commitment to supporting India's journey towards becoming a global plastics export powerhouse.