Kerala to roll out red carpet for investors

The Kerala government has said it had received encouraging response from potential investors for its upcoming investors’ meet -- Emerging Kerala: Global Connect -- to be held from September 12 to 14. The government has claimed so far around 1,200 investors have registered for the event.

Keeping the geography and sensitive ecology of the state, it is trying to attract industries that will have minimal impact on the environment. Hence, it’s the services sector that it is more keen on attracting to the state. “We are keen on industries that won't affect the ecology while they will help with development,” said Alkesh Sharma, managing director, Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd.

On the investment figures it expects through the meet, he said the government had not set a target in terms of investments or the number of jobs it wants to create. Kerala was very much ahead in health and education, but lagging in infrastructure development, he added.

“There has been a wrong notion of Kerala not being an investor-friendly state,” Kunhali Kutty, state industries and IT minister, told Business Standard. Kerala intends to simplify procedures to ensure grant of clearances within a specific time frame.

The state is keen on public-private partnership to improve its infrastructure. An official said the state would like to develop its ports, roads, railways, inland waterways and urban mass rapid transport with the assistance of the private sector. “We are willing to go the extra mile to make our state a preferred destination for prospective investors through policy initiatives and infrastructure support,” a senior Kerala official said.