Guwahati, Jan. 2: Organic weaves from Assam are set to catch the attention of the Indian diaspora at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention later this week in Bangalore.

Eri Fed, a Boko-based federation of 22 NGOs, will showcase a range of organic eri and muga products at the convention's Assam Pavilion under its Eriya brand launched last year.

In September last year, the state directorate of sericulture had selected Eri Fed to take part in the convention from January 7 to 9.

"The best of organic eri, muga products and natural dyes will be displayed at the exhibition which is a part of the three-day convention. We will look out for NRIs interested in exploring prospects of investment in Assam's sericulture and silk industry," Chandan Keshab, the secretary of Eri Fed, told The Telegraph today.

The external affairs ministry, in association with the Union youth affairs and sports ministry and the Karnataka government, is organising the convention.

"We will also explore the possibility of associating with NRIs interested in buying our products (such as shawls/stoles/housecoats) under Eriya in bulk for selling them in outlets/firms abroad," Keshab said.

The federation has tied up with a Canadian firm, Maiwa, which has assured to procure goods made under the brand.

"Tomorrow, we will launch our second Eriya outlet at Kohora in Kaziranga where a number of foreign tourists have arrived by now. The first retail outlet was opened at Boko last year. By mid-January, another one is coming up in Guwahati," Keshab said.

Sources in the sericulture department said the federation was selected after they applied and showed interest in taking part in the exhibition.

"A delegation from the handlooms, textiles and sericulture department along with representatives of private firms and the federation will be present at the convention," an official in the department said.

The federation, formed last year, has set in place a production chain with an aim to create a viable export market for eri and muga silk in near future. Besides, it has selected Mouthal, a village along the Assam-Meghalaya border, for setting up an eri park on a 54- bigha plot.

"The park will be looked after by the women of Mouthal, a village where wild silk moths are found in abundance. We are focusing on meeting our raw material requirements locally to cut cost of production," Keshab said.

Already, several hundreds weavers, spinners and entrepreneurs across 30 villages along the Assam-Meghalaya border have been brought under Eri Fed's fold.

The federation has a training centre at Boko with at least four high-speed looms.

"Our endeavour will be to attract clients in overseas markets for which we will have to ensure quality. We have a team of experts and resource persons to support us in this regard. Besides, the Assam Science Technology Environmental Council lends technical expertise in natural dyeing," Keshab said.