Kerala - Alappuzha   

‘Alleppey Coir’ all set to go international

Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA: Like Kanchipuram and its silk and Darjeeling’s tea, coir from Alappuzha will now have an international brand name to eliminate the threat of imitations and to give it a global label.

With the certificate of registration under the Geographical Indications (GI) Act from the Union Commerce Ministry being handed over to Coir Board chairman A.C. Jose by Commerce Secretary G.K. Pillai here on Tuesday, coir from this region will henceforth be known as ‘Alleppey Coir.’

Pointing out that GI registration and the brand name ‘Alleppey Coir’ would help quality coir products attract higher prices in the international market and thereby enhance the fortunes of the coir sector here, Mr. Pillai said the certification would also mean that strict quality standards and innovative designs would have to be part of the coir sector’s daily manuals.

Adding that talks were on to include the coir sector in the Tourism Department’s promotional campaigns titled ‘Incredible India,’ Mr. Pillai said the help of the India Brand Equity Foundation would be sought to ensure effective branding of ‘Alleppey Coir.’

Mr. Jose, who announced the formation of the Federation of Indian Coir Exporters Associations on the occasion, said the advantage of GI registration would be that products would be certified for their origin, imitations would be eliminated and the inspection mechanism during the registration process would ensure quality. It would also ensure supply of quality products.

GI registration would give the registered authority, the Coir Board in this case, and its authorised users legal rights to exclusive use of the GI.

Prohibition of unauthorised persons from usage of GI would also ensure that only genuine products of the authorised users are marketed, Coir Board officials said.

‘Alleppey Coir’ is the only Kerala product other than the ‘Aranmula Kannadi’ that has been registered as a GI. Coir Board regional officer M. Kumaraswamy Pillai said efforts were on to get GI registration for other products such as Anjengo Coir, Mangadan Coir, Vaikom Coir and Beypore Coir among others.

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‘Alleppey Coir’ all set to go international

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