• Investment World
• eWorld
• Brand Line
• Mentor
• Life
• Brand Quest
• The New Manager

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Cross Currency

• Rates
  
  

Shipping

• Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources
• In Focus
• In Depth

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• The Hindu ePaper
• Business Line
• Business Line ePaper
• Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

– Vipin Chandran

The Union Minister of State for Commerce, Mr Jairam Ramesh, inaugurates the India International Coir Fair-2007 in Kochi on Friday.

Our Bureau

Kochi, Dec. 7 Recognising the importance of coir, the Union Government has drawn up Rs 240-crore modernisation programme to enhance the competitiveness of coir industry, the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Mr Jairam Ramesh, has said.

Speaking after inaugurating the India International Coir Fair 2007 organised by the Coir Board here on Friday, he said that the programme would be implemented over a period of five years.

Out of the Rs 240 crore, the Government would contribute Rs 100 crore, banks around Rs 130 crore and the remaining would be raised from users as a small token contribution.

The government would soon give its clearance for the proposal, he added.

He also stressed the need for adopting a different approach in marketing coir products as Kerala is one of the major producers of coir products. Rather than demanding subsidies, the industry should change its mindset and focus more on technology and market-driven strategies.

The Minister pointed out that export of coir and coir products from the country had fetched about $170 million during 2006-07.

Considering the demand for coir-based products, India is developing new markets in Europe, North America and West Asia.

Later speaking to reporters, the Minister said the Government as part of giving a boost to the coir industry, is studying the possibility to make use of coir geo-textiles mandatory in the rural roads programme.

The Minister also asked the Coir Board and the private sector to take as a challenge the use of coir geo-textiles in the construction of rural roads and highways.

It would not only add value to the coir industry, but also enhance the quality of the roads in the country, he said.

More Stories on : Coir | Research & Development | Kerala

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

Stories in this Section
AP Govt planning farm loans at ‘Pavala Vaddi’

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line