"We will be seeking IPC support for the pepper futures at a meeting scheduled in early October at Bali, Indonesia," said T Vidyasagar, president of Indian Pepper and Spices Trading Association (Ipsta), which runs the exchange that began active trading in november 1997.

IPC has been instrumental in starting the exchange and so we have decided to seek its help to improve volumes, the Ipsta official told PTI in an interview.

The futures exchange has been hit by a low volumes of 600 tonnes a day, though of late it has begun improving.

"We will plead for better international participation at the IPC meeting," Vidyasagar, who is also vice-chairman of the in IPC, said.

Ipsta is also awaiting a clearance from the government for dollar-denominated trade at the exchange, said Vidyasagar who was here to attenda commodity futures workshop last week.

Currently, only rupee-denominated trade is being allowed leading to poor foreign participation in trading. Vidyasagar hoped for an early clearance to dollar trading as government has already given permission for this in the proposed international castor oil exchange at Mumbai.

Announcing government decision to allow trading in dollar for the castoroil exchange, civil supplies and consumer affairs secretary NN Mookherjee told the futures workshop that he was expecting clearance for dollar trading soon.

However, Spices Board chairman V Jayashankar is sceptical of move, saying it will make no difference.

He has called for removing restrictions on repatration of money from the country. Currently, foreign investors have to get income tax and RBI cleance for repatriation of money.

Vidyasagar said these aspects would also have to be addressed.

On the proposed roadshow to popularise the pepper exchange, he said it could be put off by another three months in view ofthe south-east Asian economic crises.

Ipsta had planned to conduct the roadshows in October after having postponed it from April last.

The civil supplies ministry, which will part-fund the roadshow, is of the view that the roadshow should be put off for now due to south-east Asian problem.

The commerce ministry will also fund the roadshow while the Spices Board has earmarked Rs 10 lakh for a separate campaign.