I'm open to globalisation, says Kumaraswamy

Unlike his father and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, H D Kumaraswamy claims to be a pro-reformist.

Addressing the inaugural function of Indiawood-2006 here on Thursday, the new Karnataka chief minister said he was open to globalisation and mechanisation. However, he was equally anxious that "mechanisation should not snatch away jobs from our youths and rural artisans."

Industry needs to train them on the use of machineries and "the government will provide them full support in this regard," Kumaraswamy said while welcoming industrialists from various countries taking part in the 4th edition of Asia's largest woodworking machinery exhibition that opened at the Palace Grounds.

The chief minister said India was home to over a lakh registered woodware units and over two lakh artisans in the organised sector with innumerable small businesses in the unorganised sector.

As use of machines was gradually entering the woodworking industry, the industry bodies needed to provide employment opportunities to the youths by giving them proper training.

"We will ask to our ITIs to change their syllabus according to the needs of the woodworking industries. If they come up with any ideas our government will give full support to them," the chief minister added.

Earlier, Gianni Ghizzoni, president of the European Federation of Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers (eUMABOIS) said every Indiawood exhibition had doubled the number of visitors. With the furniture processing industry across the globe witnessing rapid changes through introduction of new technologies and equipment, Indiawood-2006 was expected to to be a profitable event, he added.

The world's biggest and foremost trade bodies such as VDMA of Germany, American Hardwood Export Council, Italian Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers' Association and many others are taking part in the four-day exposition.

It is expected to attract over 60,000 visitors, informed the organisers.