By PTI

Kochi: Aiming to create a platform for the Coir Industry to expand its overseas niche markets, a 5-day India International Coir Fair 2007 will commnece on 7 December.

Kerala chief minsiter, V S Achutanandan will inaugurate the event in the presence of union minister of Small and Medium Enterprise, Mahabir Prasad, union minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, minister of state for Commerce, Jairam Ramesh and state Coir minister, G Sudhakaran. The Fair aims at communicating the status of coir as an eco friendly, ethnic and versatile product and showcasing the capabilities of Indian Coir sector, Coir Board chairman, A C Jose, said.

About 108 stalls have been put up at the venue-- Jawaharlal Nehru stadium of which 75 stalls are of coir and coir based products and the rest for Khadi and Village industries and Coconut Development Board. There would live demonstration on the recent developments in the trade and technology front in the Coir industry.

Rural tribals engaged in the making of handicrafts from Orissa will also be participating besides craftsmen from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and Orissa. Coir Door Mats, Matting, Carpets, Rugs, Rubberised Coir Mattresses and Geotextiles would be among the products on display.