Union ARI minister to open workshop on Coir schemes for 11th Plan

Kochi, Sep 13 (UNI) Union Minister for Small Scale and Agro and Rural Industries (ARI) Mahabir Prasad will inaugurate a workshop on the schemes and programmes for the coir sector for the 11th Five Year Plan here on September 16.

Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac will preside over the inaugural session of the workshop, which is being organised by the Coir Board.

A spokesman for the Coir Board said here today that the workshop was the first of its kind being organized by the board. It is being held with a view to provide all stakeholders in the industry, including those from production, exports, domestic trade, trade unions and policy makers of coir producing states, a platform to air their views on the formulation of developmental strategies and programmes in the coir sector.

The sub-group on coir under the Working Group on Micro and Small Scale Enterprises and Agro&Rural Industries, constituted for drafting the 11th Five Year Plan programmes in small scale and agro&rural industry sectors, will frame the proposals on the basis of the outcome of the workshop.

The Coir Board contemplates a number of ambitious programmes for implementation during the plan period in the coir sector with particular reference to employment generation, technology upgradation, productivity improvement, higher competitiveness, export promotion, marketing support and skill development programmes, he added.

Mr Seshkumar Pulipaka, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of ARI, Mr C Chandran, Chief Executive Officer of Khadi and Village Industries Commission and Mr A C Jose, Chairman, Coir Board, will also participate in the workshop.

UNI ARC KKS1835