India’s coir geotextiles exports are likely to take a big leap to reach around Rs. 5 billion from existing Rs. 250 million over the next five years, Coir Board Chairman Prof. G Balachandran has said.

The global consumption of geotextiles is pegged at around 500 million sq m per annum, with natural fibre geotextiles representing below five percent of the same, he said while inaugurating a seminar on ‘Coir Geotextiles and its Applications’ organized in connection with the Karnataka Coir Expo going on in Bangalore.

He said it is necessary to update all sections of final-users of coir geotextiles regarding its use and unique selling points like its eco-friendliness and bio-degradability.

Speaking at the three-day Management Development Programme (MDP), Prof. Balachandran said Karnataka has great potential in manufacturing value-added coir items like coir geotextiles, coir pith and coir wood products and also to further penetrate in export market.

Further, noting that around 50 percent of the 1,000 exporters registered with the Coir Board happen to be from Tamil Nadu, 40 percent from Kerala and remaining 10 percent from other states, he called on Karnataka to resolutely try to enhance its coir geotextile exports.

The seminar attracted participation of more than 200 delegates.