NEW DELHI (NNN-UNI)---Seeking big ticket investments to propel its economic resurgence, Kerala has rolled out a red carpet for India Inc as well as corporate honchos and business tycoons from across the globe, promising them single window clearance, lucrative returns and durable partnerships.
'There are opportunities galore for investors from all parts of the world to invest in Kerala and ensure its sustainable economic growth,' Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told a high-profile gathering of corporate leaders and captains of the industry here last evening.
Earlier in the day, Mr Chandy had emphatically stated at a meeting with top diplomats, heads of multilateral agencies and chiefs of trade missions that 'Kerala is ready for investment. We want to send out a message to the world that investment is welcome.'
The two meetings during the day were part of the road shows the state government has planned in connection with its ambitious 'Emerging Kerala' Global Connect, to be held at Kochi from September 12 to 14.
Mr Chandy, who was accompanied by his senior cabinet colleagues and top bureaucrats, said his government had listed out 12 priority areas for embracing investments from industrialists and businessmen.
These include IT and IT Enabled Services, Tourism, Healthcare, Trade and Retailing, Logistics, Food & Agro Processing, Gems and Jewellery, Ports and Ship Building.
Asserting that Emerging Kerala has been scheduled with the vision of an emerging, enterprising and equitable state, the Chief Minister said the event would provide an opportunity to showcase Kerala to global investors and seek investments from them for the state's inclusive, rapid and sustainable economic development.
The meeting, organized by CII, was attended by representatives of a number of top-notch companies from both the public and private sectors, including SAIL, DRDO, Petronet, Jubilant Energy, Medicity and Fortis.
The high-profile conclave also saw several companies from the SME (small and medium scale enterprises) sector showing keen interest in setting up their shops in Kerala in areas like renewable energy and the IT.
Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation is the nodal agency for the Emerging Kerala campaign while CII and NASSCOM are the partners.
Mr V Somasundaram, Additional Chief Secretary (Industries), Kerala, said Emerging Kerala would be a different concept from the usual, one-off investors' meet as it would be a continuing event.
'It would be a platform for coming together of business leaders and persons of eminence in different fields for cross-fertilization of ideas. We want to forge durable relationships with all the stakeholders who have interest in Kerala's growth story,' he pointed out.
Delivering the presidential address, Kerala Industries and IT Minister P K Kunhalikutty made it amply clear that PPP would be the model for all mega projects proposed in the state. 'The state has already demonstrated its strength in areas like tourism, healthcare, IT and ITES, logistics, food and agro-processing and gem and jewellery. We have now decided to promote the manufacturing and service sectors in an eco-friendly manner,' he said.
'We have a clear development agenda. The state has a highly skilled manpower pool, which can be leveraged to attract high-end business propositions,' the minister said, adding that the state government would welcome investments in areas like light engineering and automobile, high-speed trains, industrial ports, Science and technology, green energy, port and ship-building, besides tourism and medical tourism.
'Kerala can take pride in its knowledge-based economy…We want to transform Kerala into the most preferred IT investment state in the country,' he said.
The Industries Minister said that in order to give a fillip to the manufacturing sector, the state government is developing a National Manufacturing and Investment Zone in the Kochi-Palakkad region, covering four districts.
Kerala Finance Minister K M Mani said the State would extend a package of incentives and the public-private partnership is one of the key strategies in the scheme of things. 'It is time for modernisation and Kerala is at the task by unfolding opportunities in all sectors including the agriculture,' he said.
Mr T K A Nair, Advisor to the Prime Minister, said barring tourism, Kerala had not showcased its strengths in various sectors. 'If you travel from Kochi to Thrissur, you will easily find the tremendous purchasing power of the poor' Keralites. The state is a huge market which few could realise,' he added.
Terming people as one of the best products of Kerala, he said the state could not market this product well so far. 'It is time Kerala is made a cradle for human resources as the world needs young leaders. It is a good proposition to set up skill development institutions in the state and cater to the requirements for trained manpower. The institutions also offer chances of collaborations,' he said.
Industries Secretary and Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) Managing Director Alkesh Sharma said the state government would facilitate a CEO Summit, B to B and B to G Meets during the event. Various sectoral sessions for showcasing potential and opportunities in Kerala will also be held at the 'Emerging Kerala - 2012. --NNN-UNI
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