The ceramics industry expects the government to introduce policies that promote sustainability, ease financial burdens, and boost demand in the upcoming Budget 2025. Satyendra Prasad Narala, Managing Director of Regency Ceramics, emphasized the need for supportive policies to address the critical challenges faced by the MSME sector.
“The Budget 2025 should focus on addressing critical challenges faced by the MSME sector, particularly the issue of delayed payments from customers. It is essential to enforce strict payment timelines of 45 days,” said Narala. “Additionally, the budget should include provisions that support the financial stability of MSMEs, such as offering working capital at subsidized interest rates and eliminating the cooling period for banks to extend loans.”
Narala also highlighted the need for reforms in the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. “There is a pressing need to reform the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme by reducing import duties on raw materials, particularly for sectors like ceramics, where fuel costs form a significant part of production expenses,” he added.
Furthermore, Narala urged the government to bring natural gas for industrial consumers under the GST tax regime. “We urge the government to bring Natural Gas for industrial consumers under the GST tax regime,” he said.
In the ceramics sector, sustainability is a key concern. Narala emphasized the need for strong policies that promote energy-efficient buildings and eco-friendly manufacturing practices. “In the ceramics sector, sustainability is not just a goal but a necessity. As the industry progresses, we look to the government to implement strong policies that promote energy-efficient buildings and eco-friendly manufacturing practices,” he said.
Stricter building codes and regulations that enforce sustainability standards will be instrumental in shifting the industry toward eco-conscious development. “Stricter building codes and regulations that enforce sustainability standards will be instrumental in shifting the industry toward eco-conscious development,” Narala added.
The real estate sector is also keenly awaiting proactive measures in the Union Budget that will foster a greener, more sustainable future. The expansion of housing under the PM Awas Yojana and enhanced access to housing for the middle class is expected to boost demand for the ceramic industry and increase its production capacity.
Finally, Narala emphasized the need to rationalize inverted duty structures across various sectors. “We also expect the Budget 2025 to rationalize inverted duty structures across various sectors, thereby enhancing India’s manufacturing competitiveness and supporting domestic production,” he said.
Image Courtesy: The Hindu
