Rubber, Chemical & Petrochemical Skill Development Council (RCPSDC) celebrated its Annual Awards on 16 December, 2022 in New Delhi, India. The award ceremony was held to facilitate the best performers in the rubber, chemical and petrochemical skilling ecosystem.

RCPSDC claims that the yearly awards ceremony drew active participation from government departments, the rubber, chemical and petrochemical industries, training partners and assessment agencies and important stakeholders from across the country.

KK Dwivedi, IAS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, was the Chief Guest at the event. Dwivedi recounted his first-hand experience of working closely with the rubber sector in Assam in his earlier innings as Principal Secretary of the state. According to RCPSDC, Dwivedi stated that there was an urgent need to equip the fast-growing rubber sector with skilled workforce, both in tapping and processing. “The rubber and chemical sector is expected to grow at eight to ten percent in the next few years and will require a continuous supply of a large skilled workforce. By upskilling one of the largest segments of the economy comprising the rubber, chemical and petrochemical sectors, RCPSDC is best placed to be a driver of India's economic growth. For that, all the stakeholders need to come in support of the sector skill council. The government is taking rubber, chemical and petrochemical as a priority sector and is committed to creating an empowering ecosystem,” said Dwivedi.

Furthermore, at the event, Vinod Patkotwar, Chairman, RCPSDC, emphasised in his welcoming speech the necessity to expand the skilling programmes in the country in order to meet the demand for a trained workforce, both domestically and internationally.

Hena Usman, IPoS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, also honoured the occasion as the guest of honour. RCPSDC states that Lt Col Gunjan Chowdhary, Director, National Corporation for Vocational Education & Training (NCVET), Dr Maneesh Mishra, Executive Vice President, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), Dr Deepak Paliwal, Joint Director, Pandit Sunderlal Sharma Central Institute of Vocational Education (PSSCIVE), Bhopal and Dr Vinay Swarup Mehrotra, Professor, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) were also the guests of honour.

Besides celebrating excellence, RCPSDC claims that it exchanged three MoUs at the awards ceremony, with Government Tool Room & Training Centre (GTTC), Karnataka for the execution of dual certification programmes and with Rabindranath Tagore University (RNTU), Bhopal for B Voc, and dual certification programmes. A further significant MoU was inked with the Bahadurgarh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCCI), Haryana for the implementation of re-skilling and upskilling programmes under various state/central government schemes.

RCPSDC further states that it launched the project ‘Utthaan’ at last year’s Annual Awards in 2021. ‘Utthaan’ is one of the ambitious projects aimed at the upskilling of workforce (unorganised or organised) in plastic waste segregation, processing and recycling job roles and to help them perform their jobs more effectively and enhance their productivity. Through an audio-visual presentation this year at the Annual Awards 2022, the participants were updated on the achievements of the project ‘Utthaan’ and how the same is transforming the lives of neglected strata of the society, according to RCPSDC. In the first phase, 205 sanitation workers have been trained under the project. On the occasion, special recognition was conferred on Dr Pradeep Mehta, State Head, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the Utthaan project, the training being imparted by Lok Bharti Group (an affiliated training partner of RCPSDC) and Rajiv Pandey, Assistant Director, Urban Development Directorate, State Urban Development Agency (SUDA), Government of Uttarakhand, as per RCPSDC.

Amongst industry partners, special awards were presented to JK Tyre & Industries (Best Industry Partner – Rubber), Varroc Polymers (Best Industry Partner – CPC) and Bridgestone India (Best CSR Project). Training partners across different training methodologies were recognised as well, claims RCPSDC. Prerna Group (Best Training Partner – RPL BICE), Yashaswi Group (Best Training Partner – NAPS), Wayline Management Consultants (Best Training Partner – RPL) and VDA Technologies (Best Training Partner – STT) were adjudged the winners. Mercer Mettl (Best Assessment Agency – First Prize) and Trendsetters Skill Assessors Private Limited (Best Assessment Agency – Second Prize) received awards as best assessment agencies, according to RCPSDC.

The best trainers and assessor’s awards were bestowed on Abhinav Swami (Best Trainer – CPC), Abdul Raoof A (Best Trainer – Rubber), Pushpendra Singh Arya (Best Assessor – Rubber) and Manash Jyoti (Best Assessor – CPC). RCPSDC states that the best trainees were chosen from a large number of entries – Sunita Devi (Best Trainee – Plastic Waste Management and Segregator, First Prize), Shobha (Best Trainee – Plastic Waste Management and Segregator Second Prize), Sandeep Prajapati (Best Trainee – CPC, First Prize), Azad Mansuri (Best Trainee – CPC, Second Prize), Dipali Das (Best Trainee – NR Plantation, First Prize), Sudip Sarkar (Best Trainee – NR Plantation, Second Prize), Kanchan Dashrath More (Best Trainee – Rubber Manufacturing, First Prize), Akash (Best Trainee – Rubber Manufacturing, Second Prize).

Sharing his views, Saif Mohammad, CEO, RCPSDC, said, “I congratulate all of the awardees and give my best wishes to RCPSDC for completing a successful decade of hard work in the skilling ecosystem. We are committed to continuing our efforts to boost the efficiency of the rubber, chemical and petrochemical sector through skill training, and unlock the sector's growth prospects. RCPSDC is actively pursuing excellence in the rubber, chemical and petrochemical sectors, and we look forward to acknowledging and celebrating the achievements of our stakeholders in the coming years.”

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Tegeta Green Planet opened the Light Vehicle Diagnostics course at Tegeta Academy with a presentation for attendees aged 17 to 33. Beyond their chosen vocational field, participants learned about automotive waste management and environmental responsibility.

Shalva Akhvlediani, the organisation’s director, outlined its activities and goals while emphasising Extended Producer Responsibility. The session examined how the automotive sector connects to environmental duty and why used tyres, waste oils and automotive batteries must be collected and managed properly.

Tyre management and RECSOL featured prominently. Attendees traced a used tyre’s path from collection to recycling and learned how waste becomes a source of new resources. RECSOL, Tegeta’s tyre recycling plant, is a significant infrastructure project in used tyre recycling, processing tyres into materials for various uses and supporting circular economy principles.

A core aim is a system where waste is not an endpoint but the starting point for new resources, which requires infrastructure alongside greater public awareness and information on proper disposal. For participants, the meeting linked professional education with environmental awareness, stressing that future automotive professionals should understand this responsibility early.

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Tyres Europe, alongside ACEA (the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association) and CLEPA (the European Association of Automotive Suppliers), has dispatched a joint communication to EU decision-makers concerning the possible broadening of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to cover downstream goods. The move comes as trilogue discussions approach.

Tyre producers form part of an automotive value chain already bearing carbon-related expenses for steel and aluminium manufactured within Europe. The proposed expansion would draw additional products into the mechanism’s remit before the existing framework has demonstrated its effectiveness. Resulting costs and administrative requirements would land on downstream manufacturers, tyre makers included, with signatories cautioning that a conceptually sound regulatory effort could become an operational and financial strain.

Endorsing the mechanism’s aims, the signatories nonetheless urge a proportionate scope that shields the entire value chain from carbon leakage while preventing that risk from being pushed further downstream. They advocate extending the mechanism only where a material carbon-leakage danger is evidenced, and request that policymakers ease compliance demands, including via more fitting default values mirroring real production routes.

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NEXEN TIRE has extended its partnership with Zalgiris, reinforcing its commitment to basketball in Europe, particularly across the Baltic region. The renewal builds on a relationship that began in 2024 and reflects the company’s broader strategy of linking its brand to performance, innovation and mobility.

The tyre maker has pursued sports partnerships as a way to connect with fans, sharing in the passion and excitement of supporting favourite teams during major matches and memorable moments. It also values the teamwork, dedication and collective achievement that define team sports, using such ties to build authentic connections and deepen engagement in key European markets. Its collaboration with clubs including Zalgiris and FC Bayern München forms part of this approach.

Under the extended agreement, NEXEN TIRE will gain greater visibility among sports fans in the region. The partnership offers branding opportunities at Zalgirio Arena, such as synchronised on-screen advertising and promotion on LED stands near the court, in a position visible on television during EuroLeague and LKL home games.

The arrangement also includes a hospitality programme allowing NEXEN TIRE to welcome guests and business partners at Zalgiris home fixtures. Through the strengthened alliance, the company aims to share its passion with more fans while raising brand awareness across the region.

Ricky Lee, Managing Director, NEXEN TIRE Poland, said, “Our cooperation with Zalgiris has developed positively since 2024, and we are pleased to extend and strengthen this partnership. Basketball has a particularly strong following in the Baltic region, making Zalgiris an important partner as we continue to grow our presence and engage with fans. We look forward to supporting the team throughout the season and doing our best to create positive experiences for both the players and their passionate fans.”

Paulius Jankunas, President, Zalgiris, said, “We are delighted to continue our cooperation with NEXEN TIRE and build on the partnership we started two years ago. NEXEN TIRE brings extensive experience in sports marketing, and we are proud to work together on creating meaningful projects and experiences for our fans. We look forward to another successful period of cooperation and to welcoming NEXEN TIRE’s guests and partners to our games and events.”

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TBC Corporation, one of North America’s largest marketers of automotive replacement tyres through wholesale and franchise operations, has widened its tyre portfolio through the addition of four new lines under the Multi-Mile Tyres banner. Serving as a value step-up brand, Multi-Mile gives dealers a strong mix of broader product coverage and improved consumer advantages crafted to drive better retail margins, helping retailers offer greater value while lifting profitability. With this expansion, the portfolio now reaches over 85 percent of the vehicle market, offering dealers more ways to satisfy customer demand.

Among the additions are tyres built for rugged and mud terrain use, boasting self-cleaning treads that push out mud and stones alongside dependable traction both on and off the road. Also joining the range are commercial and C-metric speciality tyres tailored to heavy-duty regional and long-haul trucks, together with all-weather tyres that hold the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake severe snow rating and are made for high mileage and consistent year-round use.

A prominent name in the replacement tyre segment, Multi-Mile carries cutting-edge touring, high-performance and broad-line tyres suited to passenger cars, light trucks and SUVs. Meanwhile, the upgraded Mile After Mile Protection Plan warranty now delivers broader coverage, adding three-year roadside assistance, a three-year road hazard protection plan and a 60-day ride guarantee on top of its extensive treadwear warranties.

Rachel Tibor, Chief Marketing Officer, TBC Wholesale, said, “For more than 70 years, Multi-Mile products have offered cost-efficient, reliable and durable tyre options that enhance safety and performance. With this expanded portfolio, Multi-Mile strengthens its position as a value step-up brand, giving dealers more opportunities to meet evolving consumer needs while offering a product mix designed to support stronger retail margins. We’re continuing our longstanding tradition of supplying the right products at the right time for every type of vehicle and application.”

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