Jute export projected at Rs 5,000 cr by 2010

COIMBATORE: The government has set an export target of Rs 5,000 crore for jute products by 2010 from the present Rs 1,200 crore, Union Minister of State for Textiles E V K S Elangovan said.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a seven-day jute fair here, Elangovan said export of jute diversified products constituted 22 per cent of total jute goods export from India, valued at Rs 320 crore.

With a compounded annual growth rate of 15 per cent per annum, 25 per cent of the export was coming from High end products and the rest by way of yarn and other diversified products, Elangovan said.

Asked about the steps to increase domestic and foreign consumption, National Centre for Jute Diversification Secretary and Chief Executive Director Atri Bhattacharjee, who was also present, said the Jute Manufactures Development Council, under the Textile Ministry was promoting the products by conducting exhibitions at different parts of the country.

Moreover, the council was also creating platforms to have interface between buyers and sellers on new use of jute and its products, Bhattacharjee said.

Jute, as geo-textiles, is being used in laying roads and 10 km of road each has been taken as pilot projects in West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, he said.

Further, jute, as technical textiles is being promoted for the manufacture of conveyor belts in the food processing industry, Bhattacharjee said.