Adopt cluster approach, coir sector told .

Madurai, March 29 Coir units in Tamil Nadu ought to adopt a cluster approach for the establishment of common facility centres, said Mr G.Sundaramurthi, State Industries Commissioner and Director of Industries and Commerce.

They could also form associations and float special purpose vehicles and avail themselves of the benefits of government schemes. More value addition to their products will improve the prospects of marketing and exports, he added

Delivering the presidential address at a state-level seminar here on ‘Coir industries and its products', jointly organised by the Regional Office, Coir Board, Pollachi, and the Department of Industries and Commerce, , he said there were about 5,900 units functioning in the State but only six clusters have been formed so far. Many are not aware of Government schemes, both at Centre and State level. They should avail the subsidies and introduce new technologies, design new products. Currently, exports from the State were around Rs 150 crore. Significant role for TN

Inaugurating the seminar, Mr V.S.Viajayaraghavan, Chairman, Coir Board, said Tamil Nadu played a significant role in coir-related activities, along with Kerala.

The exports from the industry stood around Rs 640 crore and during the current fiscal, the exports are expected to touch around Rs 730-740 crore.

A Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) had been introduced with funding of Rs 76.92 lakh to promote the coir industry. Twenty-six places had been selected for implementation of the scheme

Source : Business Line