: The world of various natural coir products, ranging from the most common coir mats to special purpose coir geo textiles,popular in Europe,will soon hit the domestic market with the Central government deciding to open hundreds of frachisees of Coir Board showrooms nationwide.
Minister of State for Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, Giriraj Singh, said "1000 franchisees of Coir Board showrooms will be opened very soon across the country in the first phase" as part of the government's efforts to push the use of the eco-friendly coir products, which is a substitute for environmentally damaging plastic products.
Visiting the coirboard headquarters here today, he said the Coir Board will conduct 16 expos in foreign countries and 175 expos domestically to promote Indian coir products.
He said the government wants to increase export revenue from coir products in the current financial year.
"India has earned Rs 1,600 crore from export of coir products last fiscal and in this fiscal, we are eyeing to generate Rs 2000 crore through the foreign trade," Singh told reporters.
After holding a review meeting with top Board officials, the Minister expressed concern over the falling coconut production in Kerala-- the land of coconut trees --and asked the state government to vigorously push cultivation of coconut trees in the coastal state.
"Coconut production in Kerala is falling. Kerala coir industry is heavily depending on Tamil Nadu for row materials. I will speak to the state government to convince them of the need for promoting coconut plantation programmes in Kerala," Singh said.
The Minister also launched a new project to manufacture "false ceiling tiles" from tufted coir waste promoted by the Coir Board.
