The reported move to shift the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI), from its half a century old office in Kochi, to Kollam has caused a stir in business and political circles. Parliament members from Ernakulam and various chambers of commerce and industry have sought the intervention of the Union Commerce Ministry to nip this in the bud.
According to CEPCI unions, the Administration Committee of the Council has unilaterally decided to shut down its Kochi office from June 30. There was a similar move to shut down the Kochi office in 2007. The Kochi office of CEPCI was opened on August 17, 1955, and is functioning in its own building on 30 cents of land. Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma to look into the matter, while the unions have submitted a memorandum to the minister seeking to retain the CEPC office in Kochi, in accordance with public opinion.