Emerging Kerala campaign set to take off

Kerala is all set to kick-start a massive campaign to position itself as one of the most favourite business destinations in India and become a global hub of economic activity as part of the Emerging Kerala summit.

As part of this, chief minister Oommen Chandy and industries minister PK Kunhalikutty, along with other ministers and senior officials, will meet top business leaders and overseas diplomats in Delhi on April 20.

Emerging Kerala – a three-day global connect opportunity for business leaders, investors and policymakers – will be organised in Kochi in September.

In the run-up to this mega event, the state government has lined up a series of interactive sessions, domestic and international roadshows, business meets and conclaves to showcase the state’s investment potential and business-friendly policies.

Chandy, Kunhalikutty and senior state officials will meet ambassadors and high commissioners of over 30 countries as well as representatives of multilateral and bilateral agencies for discussions.

Besides, TKA Nair, advisor to the Prime Minister, and KM Chandrasekhar, former cabinet secretary and vice chairman of the Kerala State planning Board, will interact with the diplomats.

Emerging Kerala is being organised in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the National Association of Software & Services Companies (Nasscom). The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation is the nodal agency for the summit.

The summit is intended as a biennial event and this year the emphasis will be on a review of the state's hugely successful social model to see if it can be adapted to achieve sustainable economic growth.

Top on the priority list for the government is easing regulatory procedures for investors.

The government has now constituted a state-level committee, headed by the chief secretary, to look into new projects and approve special facilitation, incentives and concessions. For large and medium scale projects, the state board is expected to issue clearance within 45 days.