Plea to upgrade foundry industry in SAARC, ASEAN

Ahmedabad, Feb 23 (UNI) President of World Foundrymen Organisation (WFO) P N Bhagwati proposes to form SAARC and ASEAN blocks within WFO to upgrade the foundry technology, especially in the developing countries.

In a message preparotory to the 57th World Foundry Congress to be held in the UK in June 2006, Dr Bhagwati here today said: ''It will be my endeavour to disseminate the WFO message of international co-operation and interaction to all member-countries.'' ''We shall try for increased technology exchange, especially between the developed and developing nations, through interaction of trade groups like NAFTA, SAFTA and SAARC, sharing trade informations and upgradation of skills through education and training.'' ''Globalisation has brought the world closer and WFO has to adjust its strategy to retain its global apex body to serve the future needs of all its members,'' he said.

Dr Bhagwati, the founder-chairman of the Ahmedabad-based Bhagwati Group of Industries, has many plans up his sleeves to develop foundry engineering industries in India.

With 4.5 million tonnes per annum turnover, India ranks fourth in the 70-million tonne global industry, next only to the USA, China and Germany.

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