Minister for Industries and Commerce, Shri Elamaram Kareem met a select group of high profile investors at New Delhi today. State Finance Minister Dr. Thomas Isaac, Chinese Ambassador, Central Commerce Secretary Gopalakrishna Pillai, Chandran Pillai MP, Amitabh Kant, Principal Secretary T Balakrishnana and Apollo Tyres Chairman were some of the prominent persons present in this meeting.

Senior diplomats, leading industrialists and top PSU executives attended this session organised at Hotel Ashoka in New Delhi . The Minister was accompanied by a team of bureaucrats and officials from the Department of Industries and RIAB.

This was an effort to showcase the state as an investment destination and spur its industrialisation. The Industries Minister also gave information about the different investment opportunities in Kerala. This is the first time such an initiative is being organised by this government. Shri Kareem made a presentation about the programmes and changes in Kerala since the LDF government came into power two years back. He emphasised to the select gathering that this is the right time to invest in Kerala. In case of PSUs, the policy of the government was to ‘Protect, revive and develop’. Several tie-ups with Central PSUs and new projects in Kerala have been the major achievements. He expressed satisfaction at the good response to this meet.

Since taking charge as the Industries Minister, Shri Elamaram Kareem has been instrumental in projecting Kerala as a preferred investment destination and also in the revival of several loss making PSUs. His initiative saw a path-breaking new industrial policy last year, which saw the setting up of a three-tier single window clearance mechanism for the industrial projects.

The State government has decided to revive the 10 per cent Price Preference Scheme for Small Scale Industrial units. The Minister for Industries and Commerce, Shri Elamaram Kareem announced this at a press conference today. This scheme and several other benefits availed by SSI were earlier stopped by the previous government in 2005.

Following several representations from the industry, the Industrial Sector Taskforce committee headed by the Chief Minister discussed these issues and a decision to reintroduce these benefits were taken at the Cabinet meeting held on August 13, 2008. The present scheme would be in force till March 31, 2012.

The Kerala Legislative Assembly passed the demand for grants totalling Rs.232.51 crore for the Ministry of Industries and Commerce on Wednesday, July 16 2008. Replying to the debate on the demand for grants, the Honourable Minister for Industries and Commerce, Shri Elamaram Kareem also presented the proposals for the financial year 2008 – 2009. The Minister informed the house that the government had decided to scrap the plans for establishing a titanium sponge unit in the State through direct negotiations with the Russian company Rosoboron. The government now intended to invite expression of interest from international companies to set up the plant on a competitive basis.

The Minister said it was the policy of the government not to allow mining of mineral sand by private companies. However, private investment would be welcomed for value addition. He denied Opposition allegation that SEZs clearance was getting delayed on account of squabbling in the LDF Ministry. The government had not signed any agreement for transfer of Perumbavoor Rayons to the Elanjikal group. A final decision would be taken only after confirming the financial credibility of the company as directed by the High Court. Discussions would be held with all concerned before finalising the deal. The government proposed to set up an industrial park at Kasaragod and add more area to the park in Palakkad.

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Kerala is all set for a surge in industrial investments, says Shri Elamaram Kareem, Minister for Industries and Commerce. He was addressing a special press conference on the occasion of the second anniversary of the LDF government in Kerala. The Minister spoke about the achievements of his ministry and also threw light on various projects that are coming up in the state and are in different stages of implementation. He listed out the accomplishments in the Traditional, Small and Micro Enterprises and the Public Sector. The LDF government had succeeded in changing the fortunes of many loss making units.

The major projects which are coming up will see private investments to the tune of Rs.10,000 crore. A mega joint venture project with Russian based company Roseboron to set up a 10,000 tonne capacity titanium sponge unit with an investment of Rs.960 crore is in the pipeline. The Kerala government is planning to forward eight applications for the establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) to the centre. The SEZs whose applications are likely to be forwarded include those for IT, bio-technology and electronics, the Minister added. A detailed report is listed on the Achievements Page.

As the LDF Government in Kerala completes its second year in office, the Ministry of Industries & Commerce is celebrating two years of industrial growth in the state. The industrial sector saw some successful initiatives this year. The government's policy of tie-ups with Central Public Sector Undertakings is paying off. The State public sector undertakings are on a comeback trail with 27 of the 42 public sector units earning profits in 2007 - 2008. The traditional sector also have seen a rejuvenation in this period and there has been a quantum jump in the performance of the Small Scale and Micro Enterprises. The Ministry of Industries and Commerce under the able guidance of Shri. Elamaram Kareem has been successful in converting the state into a preferred destination. The investor friendly policies and initiatives have instilled confidence among Investors and Entrepreneurs. Overall the ministry has been successful in creating more job opportunities in the state.

The State and District level performance awards for entrepreneurs under the Micro and Small Scale Sectors for the year 2005 - 2006 and 2006 - 2007 were presented by the State Industries Minister, Shri Elamaram Kareem at a function held at Trissur on May 15, 2008.

The State level award winners for the year 2005 - 2006 are Mr. K C Sanjeev of Thodupuzha (M/s. Print Finish Equipments) in the General category winning the prize money of Rs.15,000; Mrs. S Subhadramma from Kakkanad (M/s. Nikasu Frozen Foods) in the Women's category and the Secretary, M/s. Makkaraparambh Indiraji Patikajathi Vanitha Offset Printing ICS in the SC category, winning Rs.10,000 each.

The State level award winners for the year 2006 - 2007 are Mr. Biju Paulose from Wayanad (M/s. Digila Devices) in the General category who won the prize money of Rs.15,000 and Mrs. Ummuselma M of Malappuram (M/s. Neenu Flour Mill) winning Rs.10,000 in the Women's category. There were no entries in the SC category.

The winners of the Prime Minister's Rojgar Yojana Awards, General Managers (District Industries Centre), IEO and best performing Banks for the year 2005 - 2006 and 2006 - 2007 were also felicitated by the Industries Minister. These awards were instituted in 1995.

The state-owned Steel Complex Limited (SCL) and the Public Sector Undertaking Steel Authority of Limited (SAIL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Saturday, May 03 for starting a joint venture at Kozhikode. The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Steel Minister, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan and the Kerala Chief Minister Shri V S Achuthanandan by Mr. G Ojha, Director (Personnel), SAIL and Mr. P H Kurian, Investment Promotion Secretary, Govt. of Kerala. State Industries Minister, Shri Elamaram Kareem presided over the function.

Shri Ram Vilas Paswan later laid the foundation stone for a rolling mill at SCL, capable of producing 50,000 tonnes of steel per year. Earlier, the State Cabinet had on March 18, 2008 cleared the MoU to be signed between SCL and SAIL for starting a joint venture in which the Kerala Government and SAIL will have equal holdings. However, the management control will rest with SAIL. This is part of a programme proposed by the Central Government for the revival of the ailing unit in the state. This would also mark the entry of SAIL into Kerala.

The Annual Results for the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) under the Department of Industries in Kerala show that the companies have continued to register growth this fiscal. Most of the State Level Pubic Sector Enterprises had an amazing turnaround during the last financial year and this year too, they have maintained that momentum with the numbers going up marginally.

At a news conference after an annual performance review of the State PSUs in Kochi on Monday, Industries Minister Shri Elamaram Kareem said that 27 companies together made a profit of Rs.122 crore while 15 made a loss of Rs.42 crore. Malabar Cements with a profit of Rs.36 crore was at the top of the list with Keltron Resistors being the last with Rs.1 lakh profit. The government had set a target of turning around 30 companies, but only 27 could make it. For the next fiscal, the effort would be to help 35 companies to turn in a profit. He also said that the government's policy of tie-ups with Central PSUs was paying off.

The National Institute of Fashion Technology has come to Kannur, the land of Looms and Lores. This is the ninth centre of the internationally reputed Fashion Institute, NIFT. The inauguration of the NIFT Centre and the foundation stone for building the proposed campus was laid by Union Minister for Textiles, Shri Shanker Singh Vaghela on April 19, 2008 at a function presided by State Industries Minister, Shri Elamaram Kareem. NIFT Director General Rajiv Takru, A P Abdulla Kutty, MP and local MLAs were also present on the occasion.

NIFT would start two four-year courses in Textile Designing and Apparel Designing in August this year at a makeshift building at Thottada and the full fledged operation of the new centre would begin in two years. The campus is coming up on over 12 acres of land adjacent to the Kannur Engineering College in Mangattuparambu. With the opening up of this centre, Kerala is poised to capture a share in the globally growing fashion business as it will offer immense opportunities to acquire high-end jobs in the fashion industry. NIFT was set up in 1986 by the Ministry for Textiles, Government of India to mould professionals in the fashion technology.

Kerala is the most conducive state for entrepreneurship according to a new KPMG – TiE study measuring the ‘Entrepreneurial Confidence Index (ECI)’ across India. This study is designed to develop the Indian Entrepreneurial Confidence Index, create awareness about the issues which are relevant to entrepreneurs and assess the India’s entrepreneur’s confidence in their own business ecosystem.

“God’s own country” – Kerala seems to be truly blessed, says the KPMG-TiE report. The confidence score of 3.80 positions Kerala much above the national average of 3.1. It also suggests that the state is moving in the right direction of development, as it scores equally well on all parameters.

As per the report that there is a boom in the services sector in Kerala. The state seems to be benefiting from a policy regime which is sharply focused on two-three key sectors, like tourism, agri-processing and IT. The survey was conducted across 10 Indian states namely – Kerala, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Delhi and Tamil Nadu.

Click here to download The KPMG-TiE ECI Report

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