I am indeed very happy to here in the midst of this august gathering. This Business Meet is organized in the city of Bengaluru – the second fastest growing metropolis in India, rightly called the ‘Silicon Valley of India’. As we prepare ourselves to host a major Global event – ‘Emerging Kerala 2012’ from 12th to 14th of September, 2012 at Kochi, we believe you are our eminent stakeholders.
This road show in Bangalore is the last in the chain of our domestic circuit to promote “Emerging Kerala” Global Connect. I take this opportunity to invite you all to this mega event.
“Emerging Kerala” is not just an investors’ meet in the traditional sense of the term. It is much more than that. Our intention is to showcase Kerala. We want people from other parts of the nation and the world to have a first-hand knowledge of the opportunities that Kerala offers in various spheres. As part of this overall objective, it is intended to reveal possible investment opportunities in projects, concepts and technologies which could be converted into profitable business. It will also give an opportunity to Kerala based entrepreneurs to build connections with business interests abroad and in other parts of the country. The event will not only concentrate towards manufacturing industry or IT, but will also highlight opportunities in other important areas such as tourism, education, health, finance and infrastructure.
I would like to mention here, very briefly, about a few major concerns which every businessmen has while making an investment decision.
Ease of doing business, I am told, is the most important factor for the business leaders. We intend to bring about real simplification of procedures to ensure granting of clearances within a specific timeframe. We have asked the Industry representatives to specify clearly the points of delay. The Government will take immediate decisions to remove these obstacles to make Kerala the most investment-friendly State.
Availability of power is another important consideration. To remove doubts about any constraint on this account, we have chalked out a definite program for doubling power generation capacity during the 12th Plan period. Work on this has already begun. I can assure you that availability of power is not going to be a constraint.
Another frequently raised concern is the lack of availability of suitable land. The KSIDC has identified about 1600 hectares of land where industry could be set up immediately. Efforts are on to identify more land and to develop industrial infrastructure. I assure you that this, too, is not going to be a significant constraint for any serious entrepreneur.
Availability of skilled manpower is another major consideration. I need not remind you that Kerala has the advantage of being the national leader in the fields of public health, literacy, education and so on. We are now in the process of launching a massive skill development program so that our pool of educated skilled manpower increases year by year. Thus, as far as the human resource is concerned, we are behind none in the whole country.
I would also like to mention that the most often quoted concern about labour unrest is, thankfully, a thing of past. The industrial climate in Kerala, in the past few decades, is much better than the rest of India. I assure you that there is no reason to worry on account of labour in Kerala.
The State is already committed to the concept of Public Private Partnership to rapidly increase infrastructure facilities. We would like to develop our ports, roads, railways, inland waterways and urban mass rapid transport with the assistance of the private sector. The focus will be on sustainable development. We will like to have Industrial enterprises which do not endanger the unique ecology of the State.
The event is planned - not as a regional meeting - but as a national/international event. The Prime Minister, several Union Cabinet Ministers, Ambassadors, High Commissioners, delegations from abroad, representatives of foreign companies and top media personnel at the national and international level will participate in this event.
Government does not consider “Emerging Kerala” to be a one-shot event. This event is only a starting point for continuing engagement with business and other interests outside Kerala. The purpose is to build long term, abiding relations which could fructify after the event. Our aim is to repeat the event every two years and to establish it as an important occasion on the international and national calendar.
The “Emerging Kerala” will provide an opportunity to the delegates for business-to-business meetings, round tables at which Union Ministers and State Ministers would participate, meetings with other country delegations and foreign trade missions. This will be a forum where the delegates would be able to present their proposals for collaborations in their areas of strength.
There will also be a technology exhibition organized by the Kerala Council for Science and Technology where a range of available technologies, which could be put into commercial use, will be displayed. This will include technologies developed by CSIR, DRDO, CST and various academic/private institutions. Kerala’s 12th Five Year Plan puts great emphasis on commercial development of technologies through industry incubators and programs to make people aware of industry opportunities in new technologies.
It is not the Government’s intention to just promote signing of MOUs during the event. The idea is to showcase and create opportunities rather than generate MOUs. I am sure that event will be a huge opportunity for all to learn more about Kerala and to be a partner in the State’s endeavor to become one of the most globally advanced societies.
I once again extend a very warm welcome to all of you to visit Kerala – the God’s Own Country – and explore the possibilities of fostering and supporting investments in the State. Kerala welcomes you with open arms and smiling faces!! I thank you all Business and Corporate Leaders and CII and NASSCOM representatives for attending this Meet, and request your support and co-operation for the successful conduct of the event ‘Emerging Kerala 2012’.
Sourced From: MD Niche
