Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers and Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel, today launched the 14th edition of India Chem 2026, the biennial flagship event of the chemicals and petrochemicals industry. The event will be held in Mumbai from October 22 to 24, 2026.

Addressing the launch event in New Delhi, Smt. Anupriya Patel said that the Government is committed to creating a conducive ecosystem and strengthening infrastructure for the industry to make India self-reliant and realise the vision of a developed India by 2047.

The Minister said that the chemicals and petrochemicals sector has potential to emerge as an important growth engine of the Indian economy. She emphasised the need to align key national initiatives, including the Critical Mineral Mission, Rare Earth Corridor, India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, National Manufacturing Mission and FDI reforms, to position India as a global hub for battery chemicals, speciality chemicals and semiconductor chemicals by 2040.

Speaking on the BHAVYA Rasayan Scheme, the Minister said that the scheme should not be viewed as just an infrastructure program but as an attempt to create an environment in which the chemicals and petrochemicals industry can innovate, invest and expand. It was mentioned that the guidelines of the scheme have been released and urged the industry to engage with the state governments for timely submission of the proposals.

The Minister urged industry to increase the spending on R&D along with adopting newer technologies. She further stated that the Department is already pursuing the Department of Science and Technology to declare chemicals and petrochemicals as a priority sector so that it will be covered under the new Research Development Innovation Scheme (RDI) which has an outlay of about 1 lakh Crores. She added that these initiatives would contribute towards achieving the vision of developing the Indian chemical sector into a USD 1 trillion industry by 2040.

Addressing the gathering, Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC), Shri Tejveer Singh, said that the chemicals sector forms the bedrock of India's economic growth and development.

Highlighting the initiatives of the Department, the DCPC Secretary mentioned that the vision of dedicated chemical parks is now close to seeing reality in form of BHAVYA Rasayan scheme. These parks will have best in class facilities including plug and play, proper infrastructure and other facilities so that we are able to bring efficiencies in the cost of production. He also emphasised the need to increase investment in research and development (R&D), stating that sustained investment in R&D is imperative for the growth, innovation and global competitiveness of the sector. He further stated that the Department is working with DPIIT on import substitution exercises in which the chemical and petrochemical sector is included.

Shri Deepankar Aron, Joint Secretary, Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Govt. of India while making a presentation on India Chem, mentioned that the aim of the event, which is now in its 14th edition, is to attract investments in the sector along with facilitating B2B partnerships enabling the sector to work together towards growth.

Shri Prabh Das, Chairman, FICCI National Petrochemicals & Plastics Committee and MD & CEO, HPCL-Mittal Energy Ltd., stated that India needs to focus on increased production and there is full support from the Government for the same.

Shri S Ganeshkumar, Co-Chair, FICCI Chemicals Committee and MD, Chemplast Sanmar Ltd said that India’s chemical sector is fully capable to absorb massive capital, leverage FDIs and position itself as the world’s most lucrative chemical industry.

India Chem 2026 is being hosted by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The 14th edition of the biennial event will comprise an international exhibition and conference, bringing together key stakeholders from the chemicals and petrochemicals sector, including industry leaders, policymakers, investors, researchers and international participants. The event will have sector specific Conclaves on Agrochemicals, Petrochemicals, Speciality Chemicals, as well as on Infrastructure, Environment issues and Process, plant and Machinery. Apart from above, region specific Forums of India-US, India-EU, India-Russia, India-Japan will also take place.

The theme of India Chem 2026 is “Advantage Bharat: An Emerging Global Hub”, reflecting India's growing capabilities and expanding opportunities in the global chemicals and petrochemicals sector.

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