The Central Silk Board, working under the aegis of the Textile Ministry is planning to raise awareness of its much respected 'Silk Mark' and also add 1,500 authorized manufacturers and retailers to its existing members by 2012.
Fibre2fashion.com spoke to a senior official from the Central Silk Board who said, “In the 11th five year plan the Central Silk Board is planning to add 1,500 news members to the existing 1,100 members, who deal in pure silk product from across India during the period of the plan 2007-2012.”
He added by saying that, “Recently, a six day, Silk Mark Expo 2008 was held in Bangalore from 17-22 December 2008. The expo received very good response form exhibitors as well as visitors. A total of 82 stalls were put up and nearly 50,000 visitors’ visited the expo during the days of the exhibition.
He further added and said, “Another five-day Silk Mark Expo has just been completed in Chennai which ran from 1-5 January, 2009. The next Silk Mark Expo is planned to be held at Hyderabad starting from 8-12 January. Over all between April 2008 and March 2009 the Silk Board will be organizing a total of eleven exhibitions.”
Global annual production of silk is to the tune of 1,55,000 metric tons, out of which India produces 19,000 metric tons of the same, while the demand for silk in India is estimated at 26,000 metric tons.
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