Kerala Pursues Inclusive Model of Industrialisation: Minister

KOCHI:
Kerala has been pursuing an inclusive model of industrialization based on the government’s clear-cut policy initiatives, according to Minister for Industries, Law and Coir P. Rajeeve.

Addressing the Ascent Summit organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Kerala chapter in collaboration with Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) here last evening, the Minister said “gone are the days when industries were concentrated in just three urban areas of the state.”

“Today we have even districts such as Wayanad, Kasaragod and Idukki receiving investments worth crores of rupees through industrial parks,” he said.

‘Anchoring Growth from Kerala’ was the focal theme of the event, organised as a prelude to the February 21-22 ‘Invest Kerala Global Summit’ in Kochi.

Noting that nano, micro, small and medium industries form the backbone of Kerala’s secondary sector, Shri Rajeeve said the government’s initiatives for gender equity and inclusivism have been obvious in its strengthening industry through new legislations.

In an inclusive economic transition, women own 40 per cent of the 3.5 lakh enterprises started in Kerala as part of the government’s Year of Enterprises initiative in the last three years, the Minister revealed.

Emphasising that Kerala stands atop the national index in industry-friendliness, the entrepreneurs attending the event shared their personal experience of opening manufacturing units in the state after having wound them up in other parts of the country.

The Minister, in return, called upon business forums such as CII to help popularise the government initiatives promoting ease of doing business.

Principal Secretary (Industries and Commerce) A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish; KSIDC Chairman Balagopal Chandrasekhar; KSIDC Managing Director S Harikishore, KINFRA MD Santhosh Koshy Thomas; CII Kerala and Manjilas Food Tech Chairman Vinod Manjila; and CII Kerala Vice-Chairperson and Federal Bank Executive Director and Business Head – Retail, Shalini Warrier, were among those present who spoke.

The event began with narrations of ‘success stories’ by Hykon India CMD Christo George, Navalt Solar and Electric Boats Director Sandith A. Thandasherry, Aceware Fintech Services MD Nimisha J. Vadakkan, Solve Plastic Products MD Sudhir Kumar and Transmio founder Sahil Sunny.

This was followed by a session on ‘Kerala Paving the Way for Global Legacy’, addressed by Eastern Treads Chairman Navas Meeran, VKC Footgear CMD VKC Razak, Vittal Cashew MD Santosh Kamath, Synthite Group MD Aju Jacob and PK Steel Castings Joint MD KE Shanavas.

With ‘Anchoring Growth from Kerala’ as the focal theme, the event was a prelude to the February 21-22 ‘Invest Kerala Global Summit’ in Kochi.