Coir Board demands specific measures for coir sector

Kochi, Nov 15 (UNI) The Coir Board has urged the Centre to include coir sector in its plans to provide sector-specific measures to tide over Rupee appreciation and decline in exports.

In a letter to Union Minister of Commerce and Industries Kamal Nath, Board Chairman A C Jose noted that ''it is most unfortunate that the coir sector, which was rural and women-dominated, highly labour intensive and hugely export-centric, does not find a space in the sectors which are under minute consideration of the Commerce Ministry for incessant relief.'' ''The Commerce Ministry, stung by the steep decline in export in sectors like plantation, marine products, garments, fruits and vegetables and handicraft, is seeking sector-specific relief measures for them,'' the letter said.

Though there were export orders for the sector, the continued Rupee appreciation was adversely affecting the exports and the coir units would be closed down, if the stalemate continued, the letter added.

In the letter, Mr Jose lauded the relief measures taken up by the Commerce Ministry for the coir sector, which enabled it to get enhanced Duty Entitlement Pass Book relief at three per cent from the existing one per cent, Duty Drawback rate for Coir Mats and Mattings at 2.5 per cent.

UNI