Developing Clusters

1)      Cane & Bamboo Cluster- Thiruvananthapuram

A consortium was formed by a group of artisans hailing from Chirayinkeezhu, Thiruvananthapuram, engaged in making value added products from cane & bamboo in the name “Travancore Cane & Bamboo Consortium (P) Ltd”.

The consortium aims for setting up a Raw Material Bank, for product development, for skill upgradation and expanding marketing linkages. The consortium representatives visited North Eastern States for identifying ideal suppliers and negotiations are going on for procurement of raw materials at a much competitive price.

2)      Handicraft – Thiruvananthapuram

A group of artisans who are engaged in wood craft & carving has registered a consortium as ‘Sree Chitra wood craft and carving development society'. Diagnostic study has already been completed in this regard.

3)      Silk consortium – Thiruvananthapuram

A group of people who are engaged in the manufacture of silk fabric has shown interest to form a consortium. They are based at Balaramapuram in Thiruvananthapuram district. Diagnostic study is in progress and the registration of the consortium, as private limited company will be made shortly. The main objective for forming the consortium is setting up a Common Facility Centre for Pre-looming facilities such as reeling, twisting, de-gumming, dyeing. For the Reeling process they are at present depending units at Tamil Nadu & Karnataka. The consortium was inaugurated on September 18, 2004.

4)      Wood - Kollam

Entrepreneurs who are manufacturing various kinds of wooden products  decided to form a consortium and  registered as a Private Ltd Company. Diagnostic study has already been completed. The aim of consortium formation is to set up a CFC and exclusive show rooms at prime locations in various parts of the State.

5)      Pencil slat – Kollam

There are about 200 units which are engaged in the activity of pencil slat manufacture, production of splints, veneers etc. It is proposed to register a marketing consortium and also to register a private limited company by unity of 35-50 member units.

Diagnostic study completed for setting up a consortium in the sector of pencil slat.  The name for the consortium is “Classic pencils” and the registration work is under progress.

6)      General Engineering – Pathanamthitta

Adoor General Engineering Cluster Association has been registered under the charitable societies act. Now around 15 units in the association have registered a consortium as Pvt.Ltd company. The main objective of this consortium is to set up a Raw Material Bank and Common Facility Center with latest machinery.

7)      Food products – Pathanamthitta

Diagnostic study completed for setting up a food cluster at Pathanamthitta district. The cluster members formed different associations for each category such as Agro based, Bakery, Fruit based units etc. A delegation visited Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), & Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) Mysore for technical assistance. Formed a consortium as ‘Pathanamthitta Agro Foods products Consortium (P) Ltd'.

8)      Leather consortium – Kottayam

SSI units engaged in the manufacture of leather / rexin bags and other products at Kottayam formed a consortium in the name “Kottayam Leather Goods & Wears Consortium (P) Ltd” for bulk purchase of raw materials, skill upgradation & marketing their products.

Raw material bank has already been inaugurated and is in the process of identifying marketing linkages. A training programme for artisans for skill upgradation was organised. The service of faculty from IILP, Chennai was availed for the training programme.

9)      Garment Cluster – Kottayam

Trust building activities are going on with the members of garment manufactures. Common Facility Center is required for technology & skill upgradation, identification of innovative and trendy designs and marketing of their products. They have registered as Holy Apparels Consortium (P) Ltd.

10)  Food – Kottayam

An awareness meeting with the entrepreneurs who are engaged in the food sector was held at District Industries Centre, Kottayam during August 2004. They have decided to form a  consortium for setting up a CFC and trading center.

11)  Garment Cluster – Idukki

A consortium has been formed and registered as “Art-O computerized Garments (P) Ltd” with the aim of providing a common design center, Raw material Bank and Common Facility Centre.

Consortium purchased a Computer operated embroidery machinery for their Common Facility Centre. They are in the process of setting up a Raw Material Bank.

12)  Ayurveda products – Idukki

The Ayurveda product manufacturers based at Idukki district decided to form a consortium for setting up a Raw material Bank. Diagnostic study has already been completed in this regard.

13)  Ernakulam Tread Rubber Cluster

A consortium was formed in the sector of Tread Rubber at Edapally, Ernakulam under the name “Millennium Tread Rubber Consortium (P) Ltd”. A Raw Material Bank has been also established. The consortium has already started importing raw materials in bulk quantities with the funds raised from the consortium members. Discussions are also going on for strengthening the linkages with Financial Institutions. They have decided to set up a common warehouse and the construction works are going on.

14)  Ernakulam Ply wood cluster

Plywood manufacturers consortium was formed with 20 Plywood manufacturers at Perumbavoor, Ernakulam known as ‘Perumbavoor Plywood Manufacturers Consortium (P) Ltd”. Proper linkage with the financial institutions and bulk sourcing of raw materials were established.

A proposal for setting up a Common Facility Service Centre to provide machinery facility and required skilled manpower for the manufacture of face veneer and blue mixing was forwarded to Government of India for sanction. The Common Facility Service Centre will be functional with the financial assistance from the bank, the funds raised by the members themselves and with the margin money loan from the state Govt.

15)  Kalady Rice Mill Cluster

A consortium was registered with 33 entrepreneurs who are engaged in rice production based at Kalady, Ernakulam under the name “Kalady Rice Millers Consortium (P) Ltd”. The major initiatives planned are to set up a rice bran oil extraction unit, an effluent treatment plant, lab for testing and for Research & Development, common packing unit etc.

The first phase of the action plan is setting up a plant for rice bran oil. Rice bran is a bye product from rice mill and at present is being sold to outside agencies for very low price. If it is stored for more than 12 hrs, the quality will be degraded bringing the price down. If they set up a plant as proposed above for rice bran edible oil it will improve the profit margin of the individual units. So they decided to establish such a plant by the consortium in the cluster.

The consortium has already purchased adequate land for implementing the above activities. They have also paid advance for procuring the latest machinery. The foundation stone for the oil extraction unit was laid by Shri.P K Kunhalikutti, Hon. Minister for Industries and IT on 10.09.04 at Kalady.

16)  Garment Cluster – Ernakulam

Trust building activities are going on with the members of garment manufactures. Common Facility Center is required for technology & skill upgradation, identification of innovative and trendy designs and marketing of their products.

17)  Printing Consortium – Ernakulam

The people who are engaged in printing works at Ernakulam are facing some common problems like high material cost and lack of facilities. They decided to form a consortium as a private limited company. The objective of the consortium is setting up of post press facilities and Raw Material Bank.

18)   Plastic Consortium – Ernakulam

“Aluva Plastic Consortium (P) Ltd” at Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district has been formed to set up Common Facility Centre for a tool room and wind energy farm at Idukki district to reduce the power cost.

19)   Fruit processing – Ernakulam

There are about 30 numbers of SSI units exclusively in the Fruit processing sector. Majority of these units are concentrated at Vazhakulam in Muvattupuzha Taluk of Ernakulam district. They are in the process of registering the consortium as Private limited company.

The main objectives for registration of the consortium are to set up Raw Material Bank, common testing center/ R & D center with data bank, common project for waste disposal, common cold storage, common marketing center, contract farming.

20)  Paint – Ernakulam

The paint manufacturers based at Ernakulam district has decided to form a consortium for setting up Raw material Bank, bulk purchase of chemicals and raw materials. Diagnostic study has already been completed in this regard.

21)  Diamond Cluster – Thrissur

Entrepreneurs who are related with the particular business have formed a consortium under the name “Thrissur Diamond Limited Company” at Thrissur. Consortium has been registered for setting up Common Facility Centre for standardization & benchmarking of their product and for skill upgradation.

22)   Tile Cluster – Thrissur

Members of tile industry based at Thrissur district have formed a consortium as ‘Tera Tile Consortium (P) Ltd'. They are in the process of setting up a Common Facility Centre for Technology & Skill upgradation, expanding marketing linkages and for new product development.

23)  Screw pine – Thrissur

M/s Kottapuram Integrated Development Society (KIDS), Kodungaloor, Thrisur and other screw pine manufactures based at Kodungaloor decided to form a consortium in the screw pine products sector. Trust building activities are going on.

24)  Wood – Thrissur

Wooden furniture manufacturers based at Cherpu block Panchayath of Thrissur district decided to form a consortium as Private Limited Company. The aim of consortium is for setting up Raw material Bank, Finance, Common Facility Centre & Marketing. Diagnostic study has already been completed in this regard.

25)  Agricultural implements cluster – Palakkad

A consortium was formed with entrepreneurs who are engaged in the manufacturing of agricultural implements based at Shornur, Palakkad in the name “Shornur Agricultural Implements Consortium (P) Ltd”. The consortium is supported and assisted by the Shornur Municipal Corporation and is aimed at establishing  RM bank, standardization & bench marking their products and Brand creation. They have conducted a survey in their cluster to identify the list of materials and its quantity required for the RM bank. They have completed the survey

26)   Ethnic Food Cluster – Palakkad

At Karipode village in Palakkad District there are around 300 families traditionally engaged in manufacturing of ethnic food (rice murukku) as cottage industry. Trust building among cluster members has been completed and a consortium has been registered as “Karipode Nice Food Consortium (P) Ltd”. 

Scientists from CFTRI, Mysore have visited Karipode Nice Food Consortium (P) Ltd, Palakkad during October 26 & 27, 2004 for preliminary study for standardisation of the product. A detailed technical study is being organised by Industries Department for this sector by CFTRI.

27)   Bamboo Consortium – Palakkad

In Palakkad district, Thenkurissi panchayath is the region where bamboo cultivation and bamboo workers are concentrated. It is in the process of forming a consortium and to develop the existing Common Facility Service Centre for the benefit of the bamboo artisans. Trust building activity is completed. They have constituted a Cluster coordination committee in this regard.

28)   Bell metal – Palakkad

Trust building activities are going on with the members of bell metal product manufactures. Common Facility Center is required for skill upgradation, identification of innovative and demand oriented designs and marketing of their products.

29)  Malappuram Rubber Cluster

The Cluster Development Agent has conducted a detailed diagnostic study in rubber manufacturing units. The cluster members along with CDA's conducted an exposure visit to the Kottayam rubber cluster to have an in depth awareness regarding the benefits of cluster formation. As a result the Malappuram cluster members gained confidence in developing a consortium and they have  registered as ‘Malabar Rubber Products Consortium (P) Ltd'.

Their major objectives are standardization of products, setting up Raw Material Bank, extending marketing networks & Technology and skill up gradation in the relevant fields.

30)  Wood – Malappuram

Three locations at Malappura district namely Kottakal, Perinthalmanna & Edavanna has been identified for setting up clusters. Diagnostic study has already been completed in three locations. They decided to form region-wise SME associations. Trust building conducted at Perinthalmanna & Edavanna. At Perinthalmanna, the registration of consortium is under progress. Land has to be identified for setting up Common Facility Centre. At Edavanna, the members have applied for consortium registration. Demarketed one acre of Panchayat land for setting up Common Facility Centre with plan fund of District Panchayat and own fund (consortium).

31)  Ethnic Food Cluster at Kozhikode

A consortium was registered under the name “Kozhikode Halva Consortium (P) Ltd” with 38 halva manufacturers based at Kozhikode. The main aim of the consortium formation was standardization of the product and technology upgradation.  They are in the process of setting up a Mini Industrial Estate, exclusively for Halva manufacturing. It is also proposed to set up a Raw Material Bank.

An MoU for technical assistance was signed with Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore and Kerala Bureau of Industrial Promotion (K-BIP) on behalf of Government of Kerala for product standardization, product improvement, quality control procedures etc.

32)  Gold Ornaments Cluster at Kozhikode

A consortium has been formed with the name” Anil Basu Gold Consortium (P) Ltd” for the artisans of gold jewels manufacturing at Koyilandy in Kozhikode district. Its objectives are setting up a common workshop for manufacturing gold ornaments by installing modern machines like gold rolling machines, bangle hollow tubing machine etc.

33)  PVC Footwear – Kozhikode

Meeting between the SME's have been conducted to build awareness about cluster activities. The manufacturers association of PVC Foot wear (MAP) is actively involved in the cluster development. Diagnostic study has already started in this regard.

34)  Plywood – Kozhikode

Plywood manufacturers based at Feroke, Kozhikode decided to form a consortium for raw material procurement. They have conducted a meeting for trust building in this regard and registered the consortium as “ Calicut Plywood Consortium (P) Ltd”. The diagnostic study of the consortium will be completed shortly.

35)  Banana Chips – Kozhikode

Banana chip manufacturers located at Kozhikode town decided to form a consortium for availing Common Facility Centre. Trust building has already been completed. Diagnostic study will be completed shortly.

36)  General Engineering Cluster at Kozhikode

A consortium was formed with the name “Kadathanad Steels Industries consortium (P) Ltd”. The main objective of the consortium is to set up a raw material bank.

37)  Ready made garment Cluster – Wayanad

Trust building activities are going on with the members of garment manufactures. Common Facility Center is required for technology & skill up gradation, identification of innovative and trendy designs and marketing of their products

38)  Bamboo cluster – Wayanad

Diagnostic study is completed for setting up a consortium at Wayanad in the sector of Bamboo. The consortium formation is expected for setting up a Raw Material Bank, for product development, for skill up gradation and expanding marketing linkages. The name of the consortium is “Uravu Ecolinks ltd”

39)  Textile Cluster – Kannur

(a)    Kannur Handloom Cluster

There are four consortia formed in the handloom sector at Kannur namely Chirakkal consortium, Kannur south consortium, Irinavu consortium and Payyannur handloom consortium. They are planning to make innovative and trendy designs as well as new marketing networks. IIM, Kozhikode has been entrusted with the work of brand building for handloom products.

(b)   Garment consortia

Three garment consortia have been registered out of which two are registered under charitable societies act and the other as Private limited company. They are in the process of procuring fabrics in bulk from Surat and Mumbai.

40)   Coir Mattress – Kannur

Diagnostic study already completed for setting up a Coir Mattress Cluster in Kannur District. They have registered it as a private limited company under the name  “Kannur Coir Mattress Associates (P) Ltd “ with its office at Mini Industrial Estate, Andoor, Kannur district. The consortium aims for common purchase of raw materials.

41)   Printing press – Kannur

Small Scale Industrial units that are engaged in the printing sector formed a consortium. They are in the process of setting up a raw material bank and the discussions are going on in this regard.

42)   Plywood – Kannur

Diagnostic study completed for setting up a plywood cluster in Kannur District. They have decided to register a consortium to establish a Common Facility Centre, a small plant for the manufacture of Formaldehyde, a chemical used in Plywood resin.

Consortia formation is also in progress in the remaining identified areas/ sectors. Awareness programmes, exposure visits, linkages with financial institutions, Technical institutions etc. are conducted regularly, enabling the consortia to identify the latest technologies, latest trends in the market. Cluster Co-ordination Committee has been formed for the developed clusters which is having its meeting regularly.

43) Garments- Kasaragod

Garment manufacturers based at Kozhikode decided to register a consortium as ‘Kasaragod Readymade Garments'. The main aim of consortium formation is to set up a Raw material bank. Bye law has been registered to form the consortium.