NEDFi-CLRI to tap NE leather sector

GUWAHATI, Jan 25 — Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Chennai has embarked on intensive field activities in the North Eastern region under leather technology mission. At the instance of the NEDFi, the CLRI recently carried out a pre-investment feasibility study to identify opportunities in leather sector in the region. As the initiative had created tremendous awareness on the opportunities in leather sector among the development agencies and entrepreneurs in the North East, the NEDFi and CLRI deemed it appropriate to organise a two-day “entrepreneurship Development Programme of Leather Sector in NE” in the second week of this month at the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) here. Sources in the NEDFi informed that the two-day awareness programme had attracted lots of promoters from the all NE States. Promoters from States like Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh participated in this employment generated programme and benefited. The two-day programme covered wide range of issues connected with leather sector. The topics covered in the two-day programme ranged from raw material resource in NE, scope for leather processing, manufacturing and marketing of leather goods, industrial infrastructure and financial support system, export promotion programme and market for leather products in NE. Experts drawn from the industry, trade, NEDFi, NIRD, IIE delivered lecturers on the topics. Sri JP Saikia, CMD, NEDFi in his brief address as a chief on the concluding function of the programme assured promoters of financial help and asked them to approach the NEDFi in groups forming NGO/SHG or co-operative society for financial assistance under Micro Credit System.