116 foreign buyers at Kerala B2B Meet

As many as 116 foreign buyers from 15 countries are among the 468 buyers who will be attending the fourth edition of Kerala Business to Business Meet, Kerala B2B, to be held at Kochi over three days starting Thursday, said a state minister.

The B2B meet aims to give a wider market for SME (Small and Medium enterprise) sector operating in the state.

Speaking to reporters here, Tuesday, Industries Minister P. K. Kunhalikutty said for the first time the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) will be participating in a trade meet in the state and are bringing in the buyers.

"Kerala is today the leading state in the MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises)sector and has now got the tag of having the best growth rate in the country and the Centre has appreciated us for the 'Cluster Development Programme' (CDP)," said Kunhalikutty.

Seven sectors of the state industry will be showcased by 150 selected sellers from food processing, handloom, textiles and garments, rubber, wood based industries, ayurveda and herbal, electrical and electronics and traditional sectors.

"Of late, the furniture clusters in the state have made a huge impact with export of furniture, now becoming a big business. At the B2B meet the maximum interests that have come from the buyers are for food, spices and furniture," said P. H. Kurian, additional chief secretary who heads industries department.

He said that at the moment there are 70 clusters engaged in various sectors spread across the state and the Centre has also supported these clusters in a big way.

"One of the biggest advantages that these clusters offer is the economies of scale in operation, given the high cost of labour and production that prevails in the state. In these clusters, the state government also chips in by setting up common processing facilities to help these clusters to achieve economies of scale in their operation," said Kurian.

The minister also pointed out that the state government will work out programmes to take part in the 'Make in India' campaign.