Nitin Gadkari
Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways
Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and the Auto Industry meets on Monday (November 2) to discuss several issues facing the sector. Auto Industry body SIAM led by its President Kenichi Ayukawa will call upon Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and talk about the performance of the sector, said sources.
The automobile sector which saw low sales due to the covid pandemic has now started to see green shoots as far as sales are concerned. Sources said that the meeting will also discuss the long- awaited Scrappage Policy and the industry will urge the Government to bring the policy as soon as possible for strengthening the sector.
The meeting will also talk about various regulations that have been brought in by the Government and the industry will give its feedback on the upcoming regulations that have been proposed by the government. Recently, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways deferred TREM Stage IV emission norms for tractor manufacturers till Oct 2021 which helped the tractor industry, the ministry has also deferred emission norms for construction equipment vehicles to 2021. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has always been advocating the use of alternate fuel and Flex- fuel, he will be asking the industry to focus more on Alternate fuel and developing technology in India, said sources. Gadkari has earlier stated that the automobile sector is one of the most important sectors in the country and is one of the most significant contributors for employment generation apart from its contribution to the country's GDP.
Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday made a pitch for "swadeshi" ( indigenous) production and said imports need to end, while exports should increase.
He also suggested setting up of an "import substitute and exportoriented department" with separate funds earmarked for it.
The senior BJP leader said the department should work on the principles of "swadeshi" and "swavalamban" ( selfreliance) and guide the economy.
He was speaking at a virtual programme organised by the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, in which firms that did not retrench workers during the coronavirus- induced lockdown were felicitated.
"I feel imports need to end and exports should be increased through the promotion of import- substitute goods," he said.
Mr Gadkari said an alternative fuel economy worth Rs 5 lakh crore could be created through rural participation.
He went on to inform the gathering that turnover of village industries had increased from Rs 80,000 crore last year to Rs 1 lakh crore and the target was to take it further to Rs 5 lakh crore soon.
The country was getting selfreliant in defence, automobiles and several other sectors and would become the world's largest e- vehicle manufacturing hub in the next five years with products ranging from two- wheelers, three- wheelers and cars to construction equipment.