The Central government is deciding to open hundreds of franchisees of Coir Board showrooms very soon nationwide in the first phase as part of the government’s efforts to push the use of eco friendly coir products which is a substitute for environmentally damaging plastic products, said Giriraj Singh, Minister of State for Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises.

The domestic market will be soon hit by the world of various natural coir products, ranging from the most common coir mats to special purpose coir geo textiles, popular in Europe.

Giriraj Singh visited the coirboard headquarters for a review meeting with top Board officials, the Minister expressed concern over the falling coconut production in Kerala-- the land of coconut trees. As the Kerala coir industry is heavily dependent on Tamil Nadu for raw materials , he urged the state government to vigorously push cultivation of coconut trees in the coastal state .

The Minister also launched a new project to manufacture "false ceiling tiles" from tufted coir waste promoted by the Coir Board.

He said that the government wants to increase export revenue from coir products in the current financial year. India has earned Rs 1,600 crore from export of coir products last fiscal and in this fiscal, they are eyeing to generate Rs 2000 crore through the foreign trade.

The Coir Board will conduct 16 expos in foreign countries and 175 expos domestically to promote Indian coir products.