Thiruvananthapuram: Minister for Industries, Shri P Rajeev, said Kerala has translated investment proposals of over Rs one lakh crore into actual projects in the last five years. Addressing a press conference here, he said the upfront policy initiatives of the Industries Department have also imparted a vital thrust to Kerala’s transformation into a major global ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) and hi-tech manufacturing destination of the next decade.
“Of the total investment mobilised during the period, Rs 27,158.64 crores was received through the Year of Enterprise initiative, Rs 55, 365 crores from the Invest Kerala Global Summit (IKGS) and around Rs 15,000 crores through the Meet the Investor Programme,” the Minister said. These three initiatives have contributed around Rs 97,858 crores in scores of investment projects, apart from the investments received by the industrial parks.
During this period, Kerala also consecutively ranked the topper among the states in Niti Ayog’s SDG India Index. The state also implemented various policies like Logistics Policy, Export Policy and Graphene policy in the five years.
He said the three editions of the Year of Enterprise initiative have yielded more than four lakh SMEs in the state. “Around 406,606 new ventures, Rs 27,158.64 crores investments and 8, 66162 employment opportunities were created as part of the initiative,” he said.
A Special Recruitment Board was set up for appointments in the public sector. Around 25 public sector undertakings have become profitable in the last year, which is the highest in history, the Minister said.
Based on scientific studies, expert committee recommendations were implemented in the traditional industry sector, and a revolving fund was set up as part of Coir Conclave. Other major achievements include the formation of handloom clusters, wage incentive hike for reed bamboo (Eetta) labourers, rejuvenating and fresh package for cashew sector, Cotton Board for improving functioning of cotton mill, setting up of the country’s first Plantation Directorate and the layam project for plantation workers, etc.
APM Mohammed Hanish, Additional Chief Secretary (Industries & Commerce); P Vishnuraj, MD, KSIDC; Santhosh Koshy, MD, KINFRA; and Suraj S Nair, CEO, K-BIP, were also present.