The actual situation and developmental trend of the plastics industry in each ASEAN member country and the whole group was discussed in depth in Ho Chi Minh City on October 23 in a bid to secure a sustainable growth for the industry in the future.

Joining in the discussions at the 14 th Conference of ASEAN Federation of Plastics Industries (AFPI) and the 22 nd Asia Plastic Forum (APF) were 300 delegates from ASEAN member states and other Asian countries.

How to survive in the difficulty-ridden economic downturn prompted the participants to share new business ideas and initiatives for with AFPI Chairman and General Secretary Ronald Lim calling for renovating productivity as one among others presented.

Meanwhile, the sustainability of the plastics industry was emphasised by APF Secretary General Callum Chen, who related to the adoption of environmental protection criterion by countries and governments worldwide.

According to Ho Thi Kim Thoa, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, the plastics industry plays an important role in ASEAN, posting a stable average annual growth of 9 percent.

In Vietnam, the industry registered a growth rate of between 15-20 percent a year as by 2011 and strives for a 17.5 percent growth rate by 2020.

Within the framework of the AFPI and APF, an international trade fair on Vietnamese plastic products (Vietnam Plas 2012) and the 12 th International Exhibition on Plastics and Rubber Industries will be held on October 24.-VNA