India International Coir Exhibition from Dec 7-11

New Delhi, Oct 30 (UNI) With the world going green, the Coir Board of India wants to promote its eco-friendly wood and synthetic substitutes.

'Use Coir, Go Green' will be the theme of the India International Coir Exhibition to be held in Kochi from December 7-11.

The exhibition, to take place after a gap of six years, will showcase the new genaration products such as multi-purpose bio-degradable Geotextiles, coir plywood. rubberised coir matresses and coir pith, a coir industry by-product used as an effective soil conditioner, besides the traditional rope, yarn and floor coverings.

About 125 importers from leading countries such as the US, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, Dubai, Korea and Japan are expected to participate in the fair, to be organised by the Coir Board, Ministry of Micro Medium and Small Enterprises, and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

About Rs 2 crore will be spent on the exhibition, with the Commerce Ministry pitching in with Rs 1.25 crore and the Coir Board about Rs 75 lakh.

''The fair is expected to not only improve the turnover of the existing products but also attract customers, both Indian and foreign, to new innovative products and popularise them,'' Coir Board Chairman A C Jose told reporters, while announcing the dates of the exhibition.

''We are expecting new businesses to the tune of 25 million dollars (about Rs 100 crore) through the exhibition,'' Mr Jose said.

A highlight of the fair will be the buyer-seller meet and a seminar with the contemporary theme. There will also be a theme pavilion chronicling the growth of the coir industry, he said.

With the domestic market for coir remaining largely untapped, the Coir Board now wants to shift its focus from the international market.

''We want to shift to the domestic market, and encourage the sale of coir products in metros to start with. The Board will assist coir cooperatives and entrepreneurs in the private sector to participate domestic trade fairs where they can set up their sales outlets. We will also provide them market development assistance,'' he said.

UNI