‘Kerala to be India’s most IT- ready state’

An interview with PK Kunhalikutty -Industries and social welfare minister,

Kerala.

Anil Kumar R

We expect investment to the tune of Rs 50,000 crore in the next couple of years.

We are trying to be on par with other states or even better than others that are focussing on IT. Many initiatives to this effect have begun. We are having road shows both nationally and internationally to attract potential investors to set up their facilities in Kerala. Our incentives to them are better today than any state Government in the country. If you look at it in terms of cost of infrastructure we are the best state, Kerala has 100% literacy and with the VSNL gateway being at Cochin Kerala will be very high on connectivity.

Kerala is now opening up and can be considered as a " reforming state". Today our Government has shown investors that we are a Govt. that means business. Kerala today has a lot of private sector participation in major infrastructure projects. To name one major project, the new Airport at Kochi is with private sector investments and this could be called a landmark project for the entire country . There are many more such infrastructure projects in the pipeline across the state. People of Kerala are also now very enthusiastic about IT, the opportunities that it would provide to enhance their quality of life, so we are seeing them eager to adapt to new technology

We are planning a global investors meet during November ’02. With Hon Prime Minister of India, Shri AB Vajpayee agreeing to inaugurate the meet, the state is all set to roll the visibility and image building of Kerala as a great investment location. And what makes us believe we are on the right track is that everyday we are now signing up new investment projects — at least one per day.

Kerala is a model state for infrastructure initiatives, because of our encouraging private sector to invest. Apart from the Airport, five mini ports are being planned at Kochi, high-tech parks are planned with about 1 million square feet of space to be made available to companies which again is a joint venture with private sector and KINFRA. (Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation). KINFRA makes investments in these projects starting at 10% of the total project costs.

To bring about a revolutionary change in investment climate through clear policy and firm initiatives. I can see investments opening up in all sectors and Kerala leading on the economic front. I also see decline in unemployment and Kerala being world class in education and healthcare.