National Activity

CEOS' Mission to China : 7 - 14 June 2000

ACMA’s second CEO’s Mission to China was led by the ACMA President Mr V K Mehta. The twelve member mission’s arrival in the country, coincided with the Summit Conference on Globalisation – China’s Auto Industry & WTO, in Beijing on 7 & 8 June 2000 organised by the China Business Update (CBU).

The Indian Industry is aware of the high, price competitiveness of Chinese goods including auto components. China, also attracts heavy foreign investments which has brought about an ever increasing focus on Quality. The two add up to the belief that China offers " European Quality at Chinese Prices". Joining the WTO could mean, China does away with localisation policies, export obligations, revamping the financial system which would lead to a more economic based pricing. These aspects would have a direct impact on their competitive position in the World. One of the objectives of the ACMA Mission was to find out how China planned to handle the outcome of WTO norms.

Following the Summit, ACMA’s counterpart CAAM, assisted in organising a 3 day programme of factory visits in three key automotive centres of China-Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai. ACMA thanks CAAM, the Indian Embassy in Beijing and the Indian Consulate in Shanghai in appreciation of the help given in arranging the programme and for their invaluable support in organising the logistics of the visit.

ACMA-Government Interaction : 20 June 2000

Mr T S Vijayaraghavan, Secretary (Heavy Industry & Public Enterprises), chaired a meeting for drafting an Indian Auto Policy. Representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce & Industry and DGFT along with Office Bearers of SIAM and ACMA attended the above meeting.

Mr V K Mehta- President, Mr L Ganesh - Vice President, Mr T K Balaji and Dr Surinder Kapur - Past Presidents, represented ACMA at the above meeting where it was decided to form a subcommittee under the chairmanship of Mr B Bhanot, Deputy Director General, Department of Heavy Industries, to look into the technical aspects of the auto policy.

The first and second meetings of the Sub-Committee on Auto Policy was held on 20th and 28th July, 2000, respectively at Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi.

On 21st June 2000, a meeting was chaired by Mr Parvez Hashmi, Minister for Transport, Land and Buildings, NCT, Delhi to discuss the modalities of conversion of existing buses in Delhi into CNG mode.