BaDaR
8th April 2008, 03:44
NEW DELHI: India will look at importing more cement from Pakistan to check spiraling domestic prices, as a neighbouring country has surplus production this year, a top official in the Industry Ministry said.
“We are looking at importing more cement from Pakistan through north western border,” Ajay Shankar, secretary in the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, said. “We are watching the situation very carefully,” Shankar said, referring to internal monitoring of some commodity prices to act if their prices go out of control.
“Capacity expansion is taking place and we expect demand-supply situation to balance this year,” he said, referring to the plan to enhance cement capacity by 118 million tonnes over the next four years to touch 298 million tonnes.
State-run canalising agency Minerals & Metals Trading Corp could be asked to import cement from Pakistan at around Rs210-Rs220 per 50-kg bag, against the domestic price of over Rs230.
India mulls more cement imports from Pakistan (http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=105449)
“We are looking at importing more cement from Pakistan through north western border,” Ajay Shankar, secretary in the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, said. “We are watching the situation very carefully,” Shankar said, referring to internal monitoring of some commodity prices to act if their prices go out of control.
“Capacity expansion is taking place and we expect demand-supply situation to balance this year,” he said, referring to the plan to enhance cement capacity by 118 million tonnes over the next four years to touch 298 million tonnes.
State-run canalising agency Minerals & Metals Trading Corp could be asked to import cement from Pakistan at around Rs210-Rs220 per 50-kg bag, against the domestic price of over Rs230.
India mulls more cement imports from Pakistan (http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=105449)