IICF to be held from Oct 11

Our Commodities Bureau

Kochi, July 15: The India International Coir Fair (IICF) to be held here from October 11 to 13 will be a platform for leading players in the global coir industry to explore business and investment opportunities, according to Coir Board chairman Christy Fernandez.

He told mediapersons in Kochi that businessmen could forge trade alliances and also form technology partnerships. This would be the largest ever showcasing of Indian coir and coir products with a fully global perspective. It is to be held within the Heimtextile International Fair (Oct 4 to 7) and the Handicrafts Fair (Oct 15 to 18) at Pragati Maidan in Delhi, giving international players a chance to plan their business programmes. They would get an opportunity for combined participation in all the three events, he said. A seminar is to be held in connection with the fair. It would address problems affecting exports and imports. There would be a detailed analysis of the market perception of coir products, consumer preferences on design and colours and other issues, which should help manufacturers here to direct their production accordingly. Mr Fernandez said Union Minister Vasundhara Raje would inaugurate the fair and secretary in the small-scale industries department would inaugurate the seminar. Stalls at the exhibition would also showcase products of coir machinery manufacturers and dye manufacturers. Non-traditional sectors like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka would also participate. There was an urgent need to develop the domestic market and re-engineer the production process.

Nearly 100 buyers from abroad are expected at the fair. Major chain stores have also evinced interest. The coir industry awards for 1999 and 2000 would be presented on the occasion. Also, an award for life-time service to the coir industry would be given to an eminent person. Mr Revi Karunakaran, vice-chairman of the organising committee and a pioneer in coir exports, said there was the challenge of import of cheap synthetic goods and the industry had to gear up to face this. Synthetic non-woven carpets from Belgium has been entering the market in a big way.