Kochi, Nov. 16 The Coir Board’s participation in the on going India International Trade Fair (IITF) at New Delhi is expected to boost exports of coir products in a big way in view of its huge exposure to both domestic and foreign buyers, the Board Chairman, Mr V.S. Vijayaraghavan, said.
Mr Vijayaraghavan, who returned here after the event, said all round efforts made by the Coir Board at the global level, including participation at major Indian and overseas trade fairs, helped sustain its export momentum in the midst of global economic recession.
The fortnight-long fair is attracting large crowd, he said.
Efforts have been made to showcase a variety of new products at the fair, including blended coir products such as curtains and vertical blinds made of coir and other natural fibres such as jute, banana and the imported sisal fibre.
India exported 1,99,925 tonnes of coir and coir products valued at Rs 640 crore during 2008-09, registering an increase of 6.59 per cent in terms of quantity and 7.94 per cent in value terms compared with the previous year.
The Union Commerce Ministry reports indicated that coir products had shown a positive growth in exports during last year while all other commodities registered a decline as a result of the global economic recession, the Chairman said.
Coir products are exported to around 80 countries including the US, UK, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Australia and Spain.
Source : Business Line