Cuttack: Minister of State for MSME Pratap Chandra Sarangi today laid the foundation of a Silk Production cum Training Center at Choudwar in Odisha's Cuttack district.

This is the first such unit in the State that will produce high quality Tussar silk yarn.

On the occasion, Sarangi said this is a major step towards empowering the local artisans and increasing the silk production in Odisha. He said Odisha is known for producing high quality silk; however, for want of a local silk production and training center, the raw material had to be procured from outside.

“This will not only be helpful in training our artisans but create sustainable employment too,” Sarangi said.

KVIC Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena, who also joined the event through video-conference, said the silk production cum training unit will give a big boost to the silk activities in the State and assured that the unit will start functioning in the next two to three months.