India Chem-2026 Conference Concludes in Mumbai
The three-day India Chem-2026 event, the 14th Biennial International Expo and Conference, concluded in Mumbai on October 24, 2026. Organized jointly by the Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals and FICCI under the theme 'Advantage Bharat: An Emerging Global Chemicals Hub', the event aimed to strengthen global partnerships, attract investments, and promote sustainable growth in the chemicals and petrochemicals sector.
Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Health and Family Welfare Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda inaugurated the event in the presence of Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha, and Union Minister of State Smt. Anupriya Patel. Minister Nadda emphasized that the chemical and petrochemical industry is a sunrise sector with huge growth potential that must play an indispensable role in achieving India's ViksitBharat@2047 vision. He outlined specific growth targets for the sector: from its current market size of approximately USD 220 billion to USD 1 trillion by 2040, and further to USD 1.6 trillion by 2047.
The event featured multiple forums including a CEO Forum presided by Shri JP Nadda focused on strengthening industry competitiveness and advancing India's ambition to become a globally competitive chemicals hub. Country-specific forums were held with Japan (partner country), USA, and EU representatives exploring opportunities for deeper collaboration in trade, investment, and technology. Several roundtable discussions addressed contemporary challenges including specialty chemicals, infrastructure for chemicals and petrochemicals, agrochemicals, environmental issues, plant machinery, pumps, and valves.
A new feature introduced this year was the 'India Chem Youth Innovation Challenge' connecting young innovators to the chemicals sector. Students worked on industry problem statements, with Soumya Bhole and Sarthak Kale from ICT Mumbai winning first prize. Suman Batwe and Saloni Mhadesar from VNIT Nagpur secured second prize, while Jash Prasad and Smit Bambhorliya from IIT Gandhinagar won third prize.
The exhibition included pavilions from leading Indian and global companies and several Indian states including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Bihar. International participation came from Japan, USA, Canada, UK, European Union countries, Latin America, Republic of Korea, and ASEAN nations, with total footfall exceeding 5000 visitors across the three days.