Plans afoot to revive furniture hub project at Kalmassery

Manufacturers to approach govt; hope to start the venture in two years

A world-class furniture hub will come up at Kalamassery if Furniture Manufacturers and Merchants Association of Kerala’s plans to revive the project takes effect.

The innovative furniture hub was proposed more than two years ago, and 3.15 acres was allotted for the project at the Kalamassery Kinfra park, said K.P. Ravindran, founder president of the association, on Sunday.

He added that the proposed hub was part of efforts by furniture makers in the State to handle rising competition in the market. Since the time frame to take over the land for the project has lapsed, the association now plans to approach the government yet again for an extension, so that the project can be realised in around two years, Mr. Ravindran said.

According to the initial plan, the Centre was to provide ₹44 crore, while the State was expected to set apart ₹22 crore towards the project cost. The project is also part of efforts by the association to introduce the latest design, skills, and technology in the sector to take on competition from big players.

Mr. Ravindran said nearly 350 furniture units had been seriously affected by the floods in the State. In Ernakulam district alone, around 200 units were affected, and they continue to be in crisis.

Morever, a majority of furniture-makers and sellers had no insurance cover, and even those who had it may not be considered for compensation as the insurance plan does not cover natural calamities.

However, the association plans to offer insurance cover free of cost after negotiations with insurance providers. Mr. Ravindran said if the association negotiated with insurance companies as a collective, furniture makers would get benefits.

Furniture fest planned

The association also plans to organise an all-Kerala furniture festival over a period of six months on the lines of the Grand Kerala Shopping Festival. During the six months, customers can hope to win prizes through draws every month. However, Mr. Ravindran said the prizes would be offered through sponsorship, and that customers would not have to pay anything extra.

Meanwhile, the association plans to establish an online platform for the industry to bring down the cost of transportation. Mr. Ravindran said since furniture makers were engaged in transporting products and raw materials, sharing information through a network could go a long way in reducing the cost of transportion, he added.