The performance of the Ministry of Industries and Commerce in the last four years of the LDF Government in Kerala has been phenomenal. The Department deserves accolades for turning around 32 PSUs profitable with a profit of about Rs.200 crores, most of them that were condemned to their fate by the previous UDF Government.
As we enter the last year of our ministry, apart from reviving the remaining sick units, steps are being taken to modernise the ones, which have been turned around. The expected investment for expansion of existing public sector institutions is Rs.275 crores while Rs.55 crores will be provided for the modernisation of public sector industrial enterprises. Another new eight public sector undertakings will be started with an investment of Rs.125 crores.
The National and State level conferences at New Delhi on November 16, 2009 and Thiruvananthapuram on February 19, 2010 to showcase the resurgence of Stated Owned Enterprises in Kerala have been a grand success and many other states are now taking the Kerala model as a ready reckoner. This was an occasion to highlight the strides made by Public Sector Enterprises under the Department of Industries and Commerce, Kerala.
Rs.246 crores is being set apart for small scale and traditional industries, Rs.2.3 crores for the Handicrafts sector and Rs.8.8 crores for Khadi industry. Rs.40 crores has been earmarked for the small industries sector this year. Out of this, Rs.6 crores is for the seed capital loan for small-scale entrepreneurs and Rs.8 crores is to be given as investment subsidy.
The Government firmly believe that they are able to make the State into an investor-friendly destination within a short span of time. Industrialists and entrepreneurs within the State and outside will recognize the change of attitude of the Government and its pro-active policies. Investors are keen to invest in Kerala if the Government is able to provide basic infrastructure. The allegation that Kerala is a place of labour unrest has been disproved.Kerala Calling May 2008
New realities
Kerala has never been a hot destination for industrial investment because of the heavily politicised environment. But things may be changing…The Hindu