The Hindu : Business : CEPC to set up research and development centre at Kollam

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 19, 2005

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CEPC to set up research and development centre at Kollam

Special Correspondent

Cashew exports to cross Rs.3,000-crore mark

KOCHI: The Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI) has recorded an all-time highest export performance of 1,27,000 metric tonnes of cashew kernels and 7,500 MTs of cashewnut shell liquid valued at Rs.2,717 crores, which is a quantum jump of 50 per cent over the last year.

This was announced by chairman of the CEPCI Walter D'Souza while addressing the press at Mangalore on Monday in connection with the golden jubilee celebrations of the council.

The chairman said that to commemmorate the golden jubilee, the council has approved the construction of a new Research and Development centre at a cost of Rs.6.25 crores at Kollam.

The new building would house the CEPCI administrative offices, laboratories, lecture halls, conference hall, boardroom and guest house.

R and D work would be carried out for technological upgradation of cashew processing and would have training facilities for lab technicians, scientists and cashew factory supervisors.

Mr. D'Souza said a global buyer-seller meet would be held in Kochi during February/March 2006.

The meet, which would be first of its kind in the country, would facilitate free interaction and provide an opportunity to exchange views on market prospects and future of the cashew industry.

He said it was expected to generate additional exports of about Rs.300 crores.

For the first time, Indian cashew exports were poised to cross the Rs.3,000-crore mark during the current golden jubilee fiscal, Mr. D'Souza said.

Cashew museums

He said it was also proposed to set up cashew museums at Goa and Kollam. The Goan Government had already agreed to take up the project at Panjim. Promotional and marketing efforts would be initiated to popularise and increase the share of cashews in chocolates, confectionery and ice-creams with a target of 25,000 tonnes of broken cashews for use in the global food industry, thus ensuring better export realisation.

The CEPCI had set before itself an export target of Rs.5,000 crores coupled with employment generation of ten lakhs to be achieved by 2015, he added.

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