IRRDB has crucial role in NR development, India Rubber Board says

ERJ staff report (LMH)

Thiruvananthapuram, India - The International Rubber Research and Development Board (IRRDB) can play an important role in evolving international cooperation in areas of mutual interest pertaining to natural rubber (NR) cultivation processing, trade and industry, according to Sheela Thomas, chairman of the Indian Rubber Board.

Thomas made the comments while delivering the keynote address in the inaugural session of International Rubber Conference (IRC-2012) and Annual Meetings of IRRDB, held at Kovalam, India, 28 Oct.

She added that a healthy relationship among all stakeholders in the rubber sector is what is required today, noting that the prosperity of rubber sector also requires the ability to innovate and adapt to changing situations, as a lot of changes are happening around the world.

Rubber is a major crop in the southern state of Kerala and it makes a substantial contribution to the state's economy. In non-traditional areas including northeast India, rubber cultivation brings about visible changes in the standard of living of the local communities, Thomas said. She reminded the audience of the Board's commitment towards bringing about positive changes in the country's NR sector.

The annual meeting of IRRDB, follows IRC 2012, and will be held in the conference hall of Hotel Vivanta, Kovalam on 1-2 Nov.

IRRDB is an international R&D platform which brings together various agencies, organisations and research institutes associated with natural rubber in NR producing countries all over the world. It has 19 countries on its membership roll and another half a dozen organizations are its associate members. The member countries of IRRDB accounts for more than 95 per cent of the world NR production, the Indian Rubber Board said.

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News release from India Rubber Board