Enthused by rising exports of coir products and to improve ‘ease of doing business’, the Ministry of Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSME) plans to revamp all schemes related to the industry.
The revamped schemes, with focus on technology upgradation and incentivising new products for exports, are expected to be announced during the India International Coir Fair 2016, to be held in Coimbatore from July 16-18, sources said.
Under the revamped Coir Udyami Yojana, committees for selecting projects will now be set up in all district capitals, as opposed to all State Capitals now. The scheme is for coir business under Rs. 10-lakh turnover.
“For those above Rs. 10 lakh and within Rs. 10 crore, the Ministry is going to launch a new scheme for Technology Upgradation of Large Industries,” KK Jalan, Secretary, MSME, said.
The Ministry also plans to hold nine coir exhibitions abroad, for which airfare and stall rent will be fully borne by the Ministry, he added.
In addition, the Ministry has approved 20 SFRUTI (Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries) clusters in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana and Karnataka.
According to the Coir Board, the nodal organisation under the MSME Ministry, total fibre production stood at 5,49,205 tonne till March 31, 2016, against 5,42,000 tonne last year. In 2015-16, coir exports were at a record Rs. 1,900 crore, against Rs. 1,400 crore during 2013-14.
Source: Business Line
