Says company CEO Mr Baiju Nair, this will the first India-based B2B portal for rubber. Membership in the portal comes free of charge. Manufacturers and traders can be members of this portal. But there will be a scrutiny of the credentials of the traders, manufacturers and buyers before granting membership, Mr Baiju said here. It intends mobilising a membership of 10,000 members in the next six months. It will also open its offices in various centres in the country and also abroad. Even rubber growers' co-operative societies can be members.

However, there will be a minimal fee for transactions done through the portal. Netizens will have to pay one per cent of the transaction amount. This fee to be borne by the seller will be only after the transaction takes place. The buyer is exempted from payment of this transaction fee. The company targets 30 per cent of the domestic rubber trade. It also expects to get a substantial share in international trade by June next year which would mean a total transaction of more than Rs 650 crore, said Mr Baiju.

The portal besides being a platform for trade, will also provide information regarding logistics, banking and insurance services. This will be based on the facilities on the Net. For this, the company will be roping in banking, logistic and insurance service providers as strategic partners.

The company, according to Mr Baiju, will be promoted and managed by professionals in the rubber industry and fields of information technology and finance. The company is in talks with Rubber Board. Mr TS Vishwanathan will be director of the company.