The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Kerala to organise business meet in Kochi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 05, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Kerala to organise business meet in Kochi

Special Correspondent

Aim is to help small enterprises gain access to international markets

CHENNAI: : The Kerala Government will organise a business-to-business meet in Kochi from September 6 to 8 to help manufacturers showcase their products before national and international buyers.

The Government has decided to organise the event for the second year to maintain the momentum generated by the first meet held last year.

The aim, according to Kerala Industries Minister V.K. Ebrahim Kunju, is to provide an opportunity to small and medium enterprises to gain access to global markets for their products. It will also provide a platform for the local enterprises to interact with buyers, industrialists and trade associations from India and abroad, thus giving them an insight into international markets and buyers' requirements.

The meet will also help the manufacturing sector attain international quality standards, Mr. Kunju told presspersons here on Thursday.

Kerala Director of Industries and Commerce T.O. Sooraj said the event would showcase the key sectors of coir handicrafts, handlooms, processed food and spices, construction materials, herbal, Ayurveda, and pharmaceuticals, rubber products and printing and packaging. Products from these sectors account for 50 per cent of Kerala's exports. The State wants to increase their exports to Rs. 3,500 crores-Rs. 4000 crores by the end of 2006 from the current Rs.1,200 crores-Rs. 1,500 crores.

He said the strength of Kerala in the handloom sector was the skilled weavers of Cannanore, who were using natural, Ayurvedic and herbal dyes, which had medical properties. Coir products, unique to Kerala, had a good export market. In handicraft, exporters vied with one another to book orders for "muthukoda" (ornamental umbrella). Mr. Sooraj said the meet was likely to attract 400 traders and buyers. About 250-300 sellers from the State were expected to exhibit their products. Each seller would have a cubicle to have free interaction with buyers. Already 250 national and 50 international buyers had expressed their interest in participating.

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