Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Government has launched its Export Promotion, Logistics and ESG policies, besides the High-Tech Framework, giving an added thrust to the New Industrial Policy (NIP), which has pivoted a profound transformation of the state’s industrial landscape.
Unveiling the policies today, Minister for Industries, Shri P Rajeev said these strategic initiatives are aimed at firming up the state’s standing as a highly promising investment destination for sustainable and responsible projects in key verticals, including high-tech driven service sector, manufacturing and export-oriented high-value enterprises.
The newly launched policies, aligning well with the NIP framework, will build on the momentum imparted by the Invest Kerala Global Summit (IKGS), held earlier this year.
Aligning well with its fast-paced transition into a knowledge economy, Kerala has become the first Indian state to adopt a comprehensive Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) policy, which provides for a slew of incentives and supports to investors.
The Kerala ESG Policy 2025 embeds sustainability, ethics, and social equity into the DNA of Kerala’s industrial and investment ecosystem. It aims to promote environmentally feasible and inclusive industries, which also follow transparent and responsible governance practices, the Minister said.
A State ESG Monitoring Cell under the Department of Industries & Commerce will coordinate ESG adoption at the enterprise level. The policy aims to achieve carbon-neutral status for the state by 2050 and transition into renewable energy by 2040. The capital on ESG components will be entitled to 100 per cent reimbursement for five years.
The Export Promotion Policy 2025 aims to increase exports and integrate industries with global value chains, besides repositioning Kerala as a globally competitive export hub, with a target of reaching USD20 billion in exports by 2027-28. Diversification of the export basket, modernisation of export infrastructure, skill development, market intelligence, and brand building under the “Made in Kerala” brand are some its key features.
Kerala Logistics Policy 2025 provides for a comprehensive roadmap to make the state a high-efficiency, multimodal logistics hub to support manufacturing, exports, and domestic commerce. It aims to reduce logistics costs to below 10% of GSDP through a coordinated, technology-enabled approach.
Principal Secretary, Industries, APM Mohamed Hanish; KSIDC MD, Vishnuraj P; KINFRA MD Santhosh Koshy Thomas; and K-BIP CEO Suraj S were also present.