Kottayam: The Kottayam-based Rubber Board under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SMPT (Societe des Matieres Premieres Tropicales Pte Ltd), Singapore, a 100% owned subsidiary of Michelin, the major multinational tyre company.
Dr K N Raghavan, Executive Director, Rubber Board signed the MoU on behalf of Rubber Board at Kottayam and Trai-Ukos Segsarn, Managing Director, SMPT on behalf of Michelin Group in Singapore, through virtual mode. Dr Jessy, MD (Director (Research); Dr Shaji Philip (Officer in charge, Pathology Division, RRII) and Dr R Rajagopal (Officer in charge, Latex Harvest Technology Division) were also present.
While signing the MoU, Dr K.N. Raghavan said that the Indian Rubber Board has made remarkable achievements in the fields of genetic improvement of Hevea clones, disease and pest management, latex harvest technology, processing, product development etc., and sharing of knowledge with leading research firms like SMPT will surely contribute towards improving sustainability as well as the development of entire rubber value chain, benefitting the growers in particular.
Trai-Ukos Segsarn pointed out that a partnership with the Indian Rubber Board in the research field is highly appreciated and a lot of knowledge can be shared, benefitting the entire world natural rubber industry.
SMPT had expressed their interest to collaborate with Rubber Board in various areas of research such as clone development, disease management, rubber-based agroforestry systems, online fertilizer recommendation, low-frequency tapping, processing and product development etc. Subsequently, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry approved Rubber Board’s proposal to enter into an MoU with M/s SMPT for collaboration.
Entering into an MoU with a highly reputed global company like Michelin can benefit Rubber Board by way of possible revenue, more international visibility for Board’s capabilities/achievements and expanding its activities.