The Central government plans to launch hundreds of franchisees of Coir Board showrooms across India to promote use of eco-friendly coir products as a substitute for environmentally damaging plastic products. Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises will soon launch a variety of natural coir products, ranging from commonly used coir mats to special purpose coir geo textiles, popular in Europe.
Giriraj Singh, Minister of State for Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises recently visited the Coir Board headquarters for a review meeting with the board officials. He expressed concern over falling coconut production in Kerala. As the Kerala coir industry is heavily dependent on Tamil Nadu for raw materials, he urged the state government to vigorously push cultivation of coconut trees in the coastal state. The Minister also launched a new project to manufacture ‘false ceiling tiles’ from tufted coir waste promoted by the Coir Board.
He said the government wants to increase export revenue from coir products in the current financial year. India has earned Rs 1,600 crores from export of coir products last fiscal and this fiscal, it expects to generate Rs 2000 crores through foreign trade. The Coir Board will conduct 16 expos in foreign countries and 175 expos domestically to promote Indian coir products.
Coirboard.gov.in
