The second phase of technology upgrade programme of 11 tanneries in Ethopia will begin next week, said Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) Director A.B. Mandal on Thursday.
Talking to reporters, he said that about 30 experts from CLRI would provide their services for these tanneries, including four of the first phase for about six months to upgrade their technology at a cost of $0.6 million.
According to him, the Ethopia Government has sought CLRI's expertise for capacity building of Leather Industries Development Institute (LIDI) for Addis Ababa. “It is an opportunity to demonstrate the capability of the Institute on a global platform. It is a $5.2 million programme for three years. CLRI is planning to do a similar exercise in Sudan through UNIDO's initiative,” he said.
Mr. Mandal said that they are organising 45{+t}{+h} Leather Research Industry Get-together (LERIG) 2011 for three days from January 28 and it will be inaugurated by Council for Leather Exports (CLE) chairman, M. Rafeeque Ahmed. CLRI first director Samir Dasgupta will deliver the B.M. Das Memorial Lecture on Friday.
Connecting Leather Research and Industry through Chemicals (CLRI-C) is the theme. The winners of Dr. A.L. Mudaliar Oratorical Contest will be awarded cash prizes. MODEEUROP awards and Design awards will also be presented. The inaugural session will be followed by four technical sessions from January 29.
CLE assistant director K. Abdul Shattar Khan said that the leather and leather products exports could touch the $3.6 billion mark. All India Skin and Hide Tanners and Merchants Association will present on Friday the ‘Green Technology Award' for CLRI Scientists – A.B. Mandal, V. John Sundar, T. Rangasamy and C. Muralidharan – for successful implementation of Salt Free Tanning Technology in Vaniyambadi tanneries under CLRI-VANITEC project, said its secretary S. Mohammed Hassan.
