THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The National Research Programme on Plantation Development (NRPPD), under the Centre for Development Studies (CDS), instituted by the Union Ministry of Commerce as part of its declared objective of undertaking policy-oriented research on all aspects of India’s plantation sector and capacity building, is organising a national seminar here on ‘Building competitiveness in globalised era: Experience of India’s plantation sector’ during January 23-24. The seminar will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Monday at 9.30 am. The opening session will be chaired by Prof T M Thomas Isaac, Honorary Fellow, CDS.
The programme is a culmination of the ongoing 21-day training programme on ‘Trade and Development.’ Eighteen papers have been selected for presentation at the seminar, said K J Joseph, the coordinator.
A stakeholder consultation is slated for Tuesday at 3.45 pm, as part of the seminar. The consultation will focus on two issues - ‘12th Five Year Plan and plantations’ and the ‘Expectation of the plantation sector from the forthcoming Kerala Budget.’ The valedictory session is scheduled for 6 pm on Tuesday. Finance Minister K M Mani will address the session.