Coir Fest 2017 aims at generating international business worth Rs 150 crore: File photoAlappuzha: The seventh edition of ‘Coir Kerala’ international exhibition and marketing event to be held at Alappuzha from October 5 to 9 eyes sales of Rs 150 crore in the domestic market. The event will be held at the EMS Stadium.
About 140 representatives from 39 countries are expected to attend the exhibition, apart from 150 delegates from across India. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the event at 4:30 pm Thursday.
The international pavilion will be inaugurated by public works minister G. Sudhakaran and the domestic pavilion by food and civil supplies minister P. Thilothaman. Transport minister Thomas Chandy will inaugurate the tourism and museum pavilion and opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala will inaugurate the cultural night.
The buyer-seller meet will be inaugurated by industries minister A.C. Moideen at 10 am on October 7. Education minister C. Raveendranath will sign an Memorandum of Understanding on October 8 to use coir-made geotextiles in associations with the Haritha Kerala Mission. Ministers Mathew T. Thomas and local self-government K.T. Jaleel will attend the function.
Cooperation and tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran will inaugurate a seminar on revamping the coir sector on October 9. Administrative reforms commission chairman V S Achuthanandan will inaugurate the valedictory convention later in the evening. G Sudhakaran will preside over the function.
Finance minister T M Thomas Isaac said the government has set a target of signing export contracts of Rs 150 crore as part of the event. The event is estimated to cost the exchequer Rs 5 crore.
Coir geotextiles to get major boost
Isaac, the Alappuzha native minister also in charge of coir, said that the government would start farm service centers in each panchayat in the state under the Kudumbasree to procure coconuts and separate and supply coir to the Coirfed.
Kerala also plans to set up coir sales outlets in 500 locations across the country to build the brand Kerala Coir. A marketing company is also in the offing.
The state could design and market geotextiles suitable for different terrains.
The government will sign a contract to buy Rs 100 crore worth coir geotextiles from 700 panchayats under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. The use of coir in paving mud roads has already been approved.
As many as 10 women from each district who have passed polytechnic courses will be trained in the repair of coir machines.
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