Damascus-Sana
The plastics and formica panels industry was one of the important chemical industries that spread through dozens of factories in the years before the crisis and was able to meet the needs of the local market of its products used for the purposes of packing, packaging and covering various materials due to its ability to protect them from damage and weather factors such as slides used in agricultural greenhouses.
According to statistics of the Ministry of Industry, which obtained a copy of SANA, the number of licensed establishments for the production of plastic plates 90 of which 35 workers and full capacity of about 29274 tons per year and 30 facilities stalled in addition to 25 facilities outside the service in addition to one facility for the public sector, a private company and produce agricultural chips With a capacity of 3000 tons per year covering 50 percent of the market need, it is currently operating below capacity.
The recommendation of the Economic Committee in the Presidency of the Council of Ministers to consider the manufacture of plastic plates and formica panels as one of the industries to replace import substitutes to support this industry and develop it to meet the needs of the local market.
According to the Ministry of Industry, Syria's imports of plastic plastics amounted to 8.7 million euros in 2018, while the added value of this industry from 20 to 25 percent, which makes this industry attractive investment and profitable.
Anas Yassin, general manager of the National Chemical Rubber Company, told SANA that this recommendation enables the company and other national companies to work and achieve self-sufficiency and dispense with the import, pointing out that the company has non-invested energies that operate a small part of its products as a result of unfair competition Importing similar products, calling on the public authorities to lease the company's products, implementing the Cabinet's circular in this regard, assisting the company in marketing its products and facilitating access to raw materials, which are plastic granules that are imported.
He pointed out that the company did not raise the prices of its products and prices are still 15 to 20 percent lower than the local market, which makes the opportunity for public and private entities that use the company's products to buy their needs from the company.
Regarding Formica board industry, the Ministry of Industry pointed out that there are 5 licensed establishments in Aleppo province, all of which are suspended, pointing out that this material is manufactured from imported polymers completely and the added value of this industry is 47 percent while the market needs of formica panels are being met by importing. The need to focus work in the next phase on communication with industrialists working in this area in order to restart their factories.
Yassin points out the importance of supporting this industry due to its widespread use in wooden furniture and furniture, which forms part of the construction needs.
Ahmed Souliman