KOCHI: Falling value of the US dollar will hit coir exports hard considering that the sector does not have a pool of resources to fall back on.

In view of the situation, the Coir Board is of the opinion that some support should be extended to exporters, said Coir Board Chairman A.C. Jose.

However, the Government was still considering whether it would be possible to support just one industry in the wake of the falling dollar value, he said addressing a press conference here on Monday.

Mr. Jose expressed relief that the value depreciation had not hit coir exports last year that saw business reaching a record Rs.605 crore on a volume of 1,68,755 tonnes. The target set during the last year was Rs.572 crore.

Mr. Jose said the Coir Board was making an effort to improve the domestic market that accounted for roughly Rs.100 crore business annually.

If the domestic consumption of coir products can be improved, it would help change the fortunes of the industry. Mr. Jose said if about 1,000 outlets could be opened in the State it would improve domestic sale of coir products substantially. He said 25 applications. The Coir Board has started talks with the Indian Oil Corporation for setting up coir products sale points at each of the oil company's auto fuel outlets.

The marketing efforts of the Coir Board are expected to get a big boost with the proposed India International Coir Fair 2007 scheduled to be held in December this year.

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