Bhubaneshwar, Dec 9 (KNN) The Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI) will open its first regional office in Bhubaneswar to promote cashews from Odisha.

CEPCI Chairman RK Bhoodes, who was on Odisha visit, said, ''In order to make each and every cashew processor an exporter, the CEPCI is opening its Regional Office in the State.''

He further said that the Department of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) is promoting cashew clusters with common facility centres, while Odisha being the second largest producer of cashew, export from the State is non-existent.

Reportedly, CEPCI Chairman RK Bhoodes also held several rounds of discussions with the senior officials of the State Government and met Secretary MSME, Hemant Sharma, Principal Secretary Agriculture, Saurabh Garg and other senior officials.

Odisha is the third largest State in cashew cultivation, production and processing, processors are unable to export a single kilogram to other countries.

Two clusters are coming up at Gajapati and Khurda districts, which will promote cashew processing and exports.