Kochi: The state government is planning to set up at least 10 clusters in the traditional industry sectors using the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional industries (SFURTI) of the Central government.
Sources said the industries department has roped in agencies such as Kudumbasree, the Kerala bureau of industrial promotion and public sector units working in the respective sectors to prepare projects to promote clusters in the handloom, garment-making, handicrafts, coir, pottery and bamboo industries.
Last year the Centre revamped the SFURTI scheme, introduced in 2005-06, to organise traditional industries and artisans into clusters to “make them competitive and provide support for their long term sustainability and economy of scale”. It also planned to enhance the marketability of products of such clusters.
“The state has done well in procuring central help or cluster schemes in the past, and is hopeful of getting Central help for the traditional sector clusters, too,” the sources said.
The Central scheme will also fund brand-building and promotion campaigns, new media marketing, e-commerce initiatives, innovation and research and development as part of the scheme.
The government is also planning to draw on the ASPIRE scheme of the Central government, wh-ich promotes innovation, entrepreneurship and agro-based Industries, the sources said.
