The Federation of Indian Granites and Stone Industry (FIGSI) will be setting up 4-in-1 centre near Hosur to double export of natural stones.
To be set up at an initial cost of Rs.100 crore, the four-in-one centre will have an international stone museum, a showroom, trade centre, testing and training centres.
Talking to The Hindu , FIGSI President R. Sekar said: “It will be a first-of-its-kind research laboratory to come up in India to test natural stones. It is coming up on 31 acres land at Sullagiri, located between Hosur and Krishnagiri. The ultimate investment will be Rs.250 crore spread over 10 years.”
The Centre will have training institute to supply manpower to industry; will establish research laboratory on the lines of international standard to test and issue certificates to exporters; international standard museum that would exhibit natural stones from all over the world; showroom to display finished products of FIGSI members and trade centre to enable buyers-sellers to conclude deals.
FIGSI zeroed in on Sullagiri as it was located closer to Hosur (Tamil Nadu), Kuppam (Andhra Pradesh) and Bengaluru and met the requirements of all the three states.
“Survey work has begun. We are awaiting Tamil Nadu government’s approval to commence this project. We have so sought road connectivity for about 300 metres from the project site. If everything goes well, the Centre would be ready in two years’ time,” he said.
Asked about the funding pattern, he said FIGSI would contribute nearly Rs.25 crore and balance would come from its members.
According to recent figures, India exports natural stones worth $2 billion (Rs.13,500 crore) and another Rs.13,500 crore worth products are consumed in the domestic market. Out of the total exports, 80 per cent is sent as value added or finished material and rest as blocks.
“After the successful commissioning, we will think of setting up such training centres in different parts of the country in places such as Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad and Rajasthan to name a few,” said R. Veeramani, head of granites, natural stones and product panel of CAPEXIL.
“Unlike other minerals, there are no fixed formulas for marketing natural stones. Each stone has its own impurity, quality, moisture absorption and tensile strength. Testing is mandatory for any building project to find out whether these stones are harmful or not. In a way, FIGSI has stepped in to achieve modernisation of natural stone industry,” he said.
