The Union Minister of State for Power, Mr K.C. Venugopal, today proposed the setting up of a coir city in Alappuzha in order to give greater visibility and new markets to the high quality golden fibres produced in Kerala.

Speaking at the inauguration of the international seminar in connection with the Coir Kerala 2012 international trade fair, he said as the epicentre of coir production Alappuzha is well placed to host such a Coir City. Production techniques used in the coir sector range from the very traditional to the cutting-edge.

Both the State and the central governments are committed to ensuring that the benefits of scientific and technological developments in this field reach coir workers and enable modernisation of the industry. More needs to be done to address the challenges faced by the Kerala's coir industry, particularly the relocation of factories to other states, he said.

Mr Thomas Isaac, MLA, who delivered the keynote address, said the problem of husk shortfall can be resolved by bringing the procurement process under the employment guarantee scheme. Former Coir Board Chairman, Shri V.S.Vijayaraghavan, also spoke on the occasion, while Ms Rani George, Special Secretary, Department of Coir, delivered the welcome address.

A host of coir industry experts presented papers on various current and relevant subjects. Mr Romulo N. Arancon Jr, Executive Director of the Jakarta-based Asian & Pacific Coconut Community, spoke on the possibilities of marketing Coir Products in Asia and the Pacific.

>cj@thehindu.co.in

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