The President, Ms Pratibha Devisingh Patil, has stressed the need to make India a ‘Talent Hub' for the world through quality training, that meets global standards and fulfil the requirements of the 21st century.

Presenting the national awards for excellence to the successful Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector, including coir industry, and also to the banks for excellence in MSME lending at Vigyan Bhawan, in New Delhi, she said India's demographic dividend needs to be nurtured to create a vast pool of skilled manpower as a vital resource for all economic endeavour and our efforts need to be amplified substantially, to meet the target of creating a massive number of trained manpower.

The MSME sector, she said, continues to retain its dynamism as it makes a significant contribution to domestic production and to increasing exports. Moreover, it enables about 60 million persons living in urban and rural areas to earn their livelihood.

The President said coir industry is another segment, which generates large scale employment, especially for women. Goods made from coir, especially geo-textiles, are eco-friendly products that hold a special appeal in an environmentally-conscious world.

The function was organised by the Office of the Development Commissioner, Khadi and Village Industries Commission, COIR Board and National Small Industries Corporation.

The Union MSME Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, who presided over the function, said that the coir industry is aiming at reaching an export target worth Rs 4,000crore by the end of the 12th plan from the present Rs 800 crore. The Coir Board Chairman, Mr V.S. Vijayaraghavan, also attended the function.

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