The Federation of Indian Plywood & Panel Industry (FIPPI) continues to serve as a strong and credible voice for the plywood and panel sector in national and state-level policy-making forums. Policy dialogue and institutional engagement have remained central to FIPPI’s mission since its inception, enabling the Federation to bridge industry realities with government priorities.

FIPPI has been actively working towards the reconstitution of the Development Council for Plywood and other Panel Products Industry under Section 6 of the Industries (Development & Regulation) Act, 1951. In this regard, a delegation from FIPPI met the Hon’ble Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, and submitted a formal representation advocating the constitution of a dedicated Development Council for the sector.

The proposed institutional mechanism is envisioned as a strategic platform to:

• Enable effective inter-ministerial coordination
• Address persistent challenges related to raw material availability
• Promote innovation, product development, and technology adoption
• Strengthen workforce skilling and employment generation
• Enhance export competitiveness of Indian plywood and panel products

FIPPI strongly believes that a dedicated Development Council will provide long-term policy stability and structured industry–government engagement for the sector.

Over the years, FIPPI has consistently represented the plywood and panel industry before Central and State Governments on a wide range of regulatory and policy matters. These include issues related to raw material access, transport and transit regulations, import policies, excise and taxation matters, environmental compliance frameworks, and forestry and agroforestry legislation.

The Federation’s long-standing participation in government committees, working groups, and advisory councils underscores its credibility and recognition as a responsible industry representative committed to sustainable and inclusive growth.

Recognising agroforestry as the backbone of raw material sustainability for the wood-based industry, FIPPI has actively engaged with multiple ministries to address policy gaps and implementation challenges. The Federation has submitted detailed representations to:

• Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC)
• Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare
• Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)

These representations highlighted critical concerns related to existing agroforestry policy frameworks and emphasised the need for enabling regulations that support farmers, industry, and environmental objectives simultaneously.

As part of its forward-looking policy advocacy, FIPPI submitted comprehensive recommendations for the Union Budget 2026–27, focusing on long-term structural reforms and growth enablers for the plywood and panel sector. Key recommendations included:

• Formulation of a National Timber Policy and a dedicated Agroforestry Act
• Establishment of a National Agroforestry Board
• Ensuring parity and equal policy support for agroforestry with agricultural crops
• Relaxation and rationalisation of transit rules for farm-grown timber
• Introduction of a carbon credit and green incentive framework for agroforestry plantations
• Reconstitution of the Development Council for Plywood and Panel Products
• Government-directed pricing mechanism for technical-grade urea

Through sustained policy advocacy, constructive government engagement, and institution-building efforts, FIPPI continues to work towards creating an enabling ecosystem for the plywood and panel industry—one that balances industrial growth, farmer welfare, environmental sustainability, and national economic priorities.