Kerala profitable destination for green-minded businesses: Minister

Chennai, August 13:  Businesses keen to drive their bottom lines and maintain green credentials will find Kerala the ideal destination to realise their plans, state Industries and IT Minister Shri. P.K. Kunhalikutty said today.

Speaking at a business meet held in the city in connection with the upcoming “Emerging Kerala 2012 Global Connect”, he listed the multiple attractions of the state – healthy socio-economic indicators, highly skilled manpower, and excellent transport network and data connectivity – stating that these factors took on added advantage because of the clean and green environment Kerala offers.

“The state has always emphasised on equitable growth and sustainable resource utilisation for its economic progress.  We have placed special emphasis on being green and environment-friendly,” Shri. Kunhalikutty said.

Extending a personal invitation to the assembled business and corporate leaders to come and explore investment opportunities in Kerala, he said the Government has adopted a pro-active approach towards industry and enterprises.

“A set of new investor-friendly policies in Industries, IT, SEZ, Labour, Tourism and Healthcare sectors have been introduced to make the state an attractive destination for sustained economic progress, growth and development,” he said.

‘Emerging Kerala’, the Government’s flagship branding campaign has been designed with the objective of showcasing Kerala to the world. It will also be an exercise to review Kerala’s socio-economic development models and discuss new ideas, projects and future strategies.

The summit, which takes place in the commercial hub of Kochi from September 12-14, will be inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and attended by dignitaries from more than 35 nations.

The business meeting in Chennai was part of a series of domestic road shows which has already travelled to Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru and has garnered valuable suggestions and proposals from participants.

“We invite new technology partners. We are open to any new and viable proposals that may come up at this meeting. We intend to make this exercise meaningful and business-like,” Shri. Kunhalikutty said.

Senior state officials at the Business Meet included Shri. V Somasundaran, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries and Commerce; Shri. Alkesh Sharma, Secretary, Industries-IP, and Managing Director, Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation; Shri. V.P. Joy, Principal Secretary, Finance; Shri. P.H. Kurian, Principal Secretary, IT, Ports and PWD; Shri. K.S. Srinivas, Special  Secretary, Industries; Shri. S. Ramnath, Managing Director, KINFRA; Dr. Jacob Thomas, Director, Ports, and Shri. S. Anil Kumar, Managing Director, Tourist Resorts Kerala Ltd.

Shri. Madhavan Nambiar, Former Secretary to Government of India, Civil Aviation, and Vice Chairman Emerging Kerala Organising Committee, said in his special address that the summit is not going to be about signing MoUs but a starting point for initiating dialogue with investors.

“Emerging Kerala is going to be a meeting of minds in terms of what the industry requires and what the Government can bring to the table.”

Shri. Alkesh Sharma, who made a brief presentation on the investment potential in the state, said Emerging Kerala would be a wonderful platform for businesses to forge partnerships that will not be limited to Kerala but will have wider benefits.

“In addition to the networking opportunities at the summit, we are facilitating B2B connects online. Already over 220 people have registered on our web platform to find partners, share interests and set up meetings,” Shri. Sharma said.

Industralists Shri. P Ganesh, Executive Director, Glass and Glazing Systems; Shri. C Balagopal, MD, Terumo Penpol Ltd; and Shri. K Nandakumar, President and Chief Executive Officer, SunTec, shared their experience of doing business and working in Kerala.

Kerala will showcase a multitude of new projects and schemes across 26 sectors which the state has identified as being key drivers of its economic growth. With the thrust of public-private partnership model, especially for infrastructure development, these projects offer investment opportunities ranging from a few lakhs to thousands of crores of rupees.

More than 1,600 people from countries, including the US, the UK and China, have registered for the summit which will feature plenaries, sectoral sessions, B2B and B2G meets.

Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) is the nodal agency for the summit, with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) as industry and trade partners.