Indian coir exports up by over 50 per cent

Alappuzha, Mar 10 (UNI) Indian coir exports are set to rise by over 50 per cent during 2006-07, exceeding the target of Rs 572 crore set by the Union Textiles ministry, Coir Board chairman A C Jose said today.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Jose said the coir industry was going to achieve an all-time high in exports both in qualitative and quantitiative terms.

The Textiles ministry had set an export target of Rs 572 crore (130 million USD) for 2006-07, as against last year's target of 85 million USD. The exports from April 2006 to February 2007 had touched Rs 536 crore, as against Rs 463 crore during the corresponding period in the previous year.

''It is expected that the export of coir products during 2006-07 will surpass the target of Rs 572 crore. Exports of allied products may be in the vicinity of Rs 50 crore to Rs 60 crore,'' he added.

In quantitative terms, the exports had risen to 145,902 tonnes this year compared to Rs 122,084 tonnes last year.

To give a fillip to coir exports, India will host the second India International Coir Fair (IICF 2007) at Alappuzha from October 19 to 21 this year. This was decided at a meeting of various stakeholders of the coir sector at Kochi yesterday. The first such fair was held at Kochi in 2001.

The IICF 2007 would be attended by at least 75 to 100 buyers of coir from the traditional markets of the European Union and the USA and niche markets in South America, North America, African countries, Australia, Middle-East and China. Around 100 manufacturers and exporters will put up stalls.

The IICF 2007 is expected to generate additional exports of Rs 100 crore. It is also expected to attract Indian buyers, leading to an expansion of the domestic market, Mr Jose said.

A smaller meet, to be attended by representatives of at least 45 Commonwealth countries, under the Commonwealth-India Initiative for SMEs, would be held at Kochi from March 25 to 30.

The Coir Board had proposed an overall outlay of Rs 1069.30 crore for the sector during the five-year period of the 11th plan, covering 2007-12. The Centre had accepted this proposal and had provided the highest-ever assistance of Rs 61.25 crore to the coir sector for the year 2007-08. Of this, Rs 22.50 crore will be spent on the Coir Board's new scheme on 'Rejuvenation of Coir Sector and Modernisation Programme for Coir Industry.' The Centre's assistance would be mainly used for replacing age-old manual looms by semi-automatic looms.

UNI