KSIC on expansion mode, to set up shops in N-K, B'luru airport

The Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) will set up new shops at the Kempegowda International Airport and Indiranagar in Bengaluru and one at Davangere, soon.

Addressing mediapersons here on Saturday, KSIC chairperson D Basavaraju said that by the end of the present financial year, steps would be taken to open shops in Belagavi, Hubballi and Shivamogga. He said that talks were on with Mysore Sales International Limited (MSIL) authorities to get some space at its Karnataka Bhavan in Mumbai for opening a showroom. Similarly, in Delhi too, talks are in progress to avail some space at Karnataka Bhavan, he said.

He said that KSIC was the first public sector unit (PSU) under the State government to celebrate centenary and seventh in the nation to get geographical indication (GI) tag. He said that Air India had placed an order for 10,000 sarees and talks were on with SpiceJet to supply sarees to the airlines staffers. The Kochi-based Spices Board, which had hosted the International Pepper Community (IPC) conference in Mysuru, recently, had bought 400 silk scarves.

More and more corporates are showing keen interest in the sarees. Discussion is on with the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) to include a visit to KSIC showrooms on its itinerary for tourists, he said.

He said that the KSIC earned a profit of Rs 27 crore on a turnover of Rs 146 crore last year and this time the turnover was expected to cross Rs 157 crore. Furthermore, both productivity and marketing have improved at the Corporation due to modernisation, expansion and reforms. The KSIC would roll out 4.10 lakh metres of sarees this year. By December end, the KSIC has recorded a turnover of Rs 107 crore and a business of Rs 60 crore is expected in the next three months. Basavaraju said that the Corporation would face a major problem as 328 vacancies would be created this year due to retirement of employees.