Coir board sets Rs 1,200 cr exports target for 2012-13

The Coir Board has set an export target of Rs 1,200 crore in 2012-13, which is 14 per cent higher than the last year’s exports of Rs 1,052.62 crore.

“We are targeting Rs 1,200 crore exports in the current fiscal. This year we are trying to reach out to virgin countries for export of the coir materials,” G Balachandran, chairman, Coir Board told media persons here on Thursday.

The exports had grown by 30 per cent in value and 28 per cent in volume in 2011-12.

Balachandran was in the city to attend the 209th board meeting to finalise the implementation of various development programmes of coir industry.

Asked on the impact of global slowdown on the industry, he said, coir exports had maintained a continuous growth trajectory even during the global economic crisis. India exports coir and its products to over 62 countries with the US being the largest market accounting for 37 per cent. Besides, the board is exploring opportunities for export to countries in Latin America, Africa, New Zealand, Jordan, Cyprus and Thailand.

The domestic market for coir products is currently estimated at Rs 2,000 crore and this is expected to grow to Rs 3,500 crore by 2017.

The Coir Board has earmarked Rs 4.59 crore financial assistance in 2012-13 for the development of coir industry in Odisha.

In addition, the board has prepared an action plan for Odisha aiming to increase the utilization of husk up to 50 per cent during the 12th five year plan, from 30 per cent at present.

Balachandran is likely to meet Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik tomorrow for finalizing the action plan for implementation of coir development programmes.

The board will tie up with the city based KIIT university and Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) for providing vocational training. This year, the Coir Board intends to impart training to 20, 000 people in India (including 4, 000 in Odisha) to enable them start new coir industry, he added.