Coir Industry Sees Sunny Days Ahead

KOCHI: The second India International Coir Fair, aimed at popularising the status of coir as an eco-friendly, ethnic, and versatile product and showcasing the capabilities of Indian coir sector, will open on Friday.

The fair is being conducted after a gap of six years, when demand for various coir products like coir pith and coir geotextiles is on the rise. Coir Board has targeted an export turnover of Rs 700 crore in the current fiscal, which is almost Rs 100 crore more than that in the previous year.

Apart from increased assistance from the Centre for coir promotion, the sector also has other reasons to cheer this year. The awarding of geographical indication (GI) status to Alleppey coir and the formation of the Indian chapter of International Erosion Control Association with Coir Board chairman AC Jose as patron are expected to give a shot in the arm for coir exports.

Around 106 importers from 40 countries including buying houses and buying agents who source home furnishing products for large scale retail chains in the US and Europe will participate in the event. The buying houses in India who serve foreign stores and inland market buyers are also attending the fair. The buyer seller meet is expected to be the cynosure of the meet.

The five-day event, jointly organised by Coir Board and commerce ministry, will be inaugurated by Kerala chief minister VS Achuthanandan, while Union minister for micro, small and medium enterprises Mahabir Prasad will be the chief guest for the function.Mr Anwar Ul Hoda, Planning Commission member, will deliver the Revi Karuna Karan memorial lecture.