The Hindu Business Line : Industrial clusters catching on in Kerala

The objectives of the clusters are standardisation, skill and technology upgradation, establishment of a raw material banks and creation of marketing networks.

Thiruvananthapuram , Aug. 5

A SLEW of new industrial clusters covering various sectors ranging from gold ornaments to ethnic foods are fast coming up in different parts of Kerala.

These include a rubber cluster in Malappuram district, tread rubber and plywood clusters in Ernakulam, ethnic food and gold ornament clusters in Kozhikode and a diamond cluster in Thrissur.

These and other details of the cluster development initiatives of the State Industries Department came up at an awareness workshop for bankers held here on Thursday.

The formation of the consortium for the rubber cluster in Malappuram district is under progress with the formation of a coordination committee. The objectives of the cluster are standardisation, skill and technology upgradation, establishment of a raw material bank and creation of a marketing network.

In the case of the plywood cluster at Perumbavur in Ernakulam district, a consortium has already been formed and the setting up of a common facility centre (CFC) is currently underway. The CFC, meant for face veneer peeling and glue manufacturing, has been granted a margin money loan of Rs 5 lakh.

A rice mills cluster at Kalady in Ernakulam district is also at an advanced stage of implementation. A private limited company, styled, Kalady Rice Millers Consortium has been formed by 33 modern rice mills in the area.

The cluster has planned major initiatives such as setting up of a rice bran oil extraction unit, effluent treatment plant, research and development cell and a testing laboratory and a packaging unit.

For the ethnic foods cluster in Kozhikode district, a consortium is already in place and it will feature a raw material bank and a CFC. Besides, a memorandum of understanding has been signed with the Central Food Technology and Research Institute for standardisation of the famous "Kozhikode halwa".

The idea for forming a diamond cluster in Thrissur district stems from the fact that there are about 300 units in the district engaged in polishing diamonds of 3,750 carats, worth Rs 1.85 crore, per day. The diagnostic study for the cluster is completed and a consortium has been formed for CFC, skill upgradation and marketing.

The other clusters being developed are a gold ornaments cluster in Kozhikode, tread rubber cluster in Ernakulam and a cane and bamboo cluster in Thiruvananthapuram.

Apart from these, a host of products and sectors have been identified by the Industries Department as having good potential for cluster development across all the 14 districts in the State.

More Stories on : Infrastructure | Kerala

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page