CII panels to advise Kerala rubber sector

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has decided to constitute two expert panels for evolving a framework for development and for enhancing the competitiveness of the rubber sector in Kerala.

While one panel would deal with issues concerning cost competitiveness, quality improvement in processing and strategies in local and international markets, the other expert panel would focus solely on issues regarding taxation.

Both panels would include representatives of planters, processors, traders, workers as well as officials of CII, Rubber Board and Government of Kerala, a CII source said the panels will be constituted soon and it will work out an action plan and implementation strategy for various groups.

The panels will also draw up a time-frame for the implementation of the action plan and work out a self-monitoring mechanism to evaluate the progress of implementation.

The decision to constitute the expert panels was taken based on a consensus that emerged from discussions between various stakeholders in the rubber industry at a recently concluded two-day conference on 'Resurgent Natural Rubber' organised by CII in Kochi.

The impact of globalisation was viewed as a major threat in the long term if appropriate policies are not evolved and action plan initiated.

Other suggestions for enhancing competitiveness in natural rubber production included developing a floor price for covering the cost of production, shift from conventional methods of production, processing and marketing to develop value addition, quality and delivery improvements and agreement on pricing between producers and users.