Union Ministers attend the meet pledge Centre’s full support to Kerala
Kochi, NFAPost: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan asserted that the investors coming to Kerala will not face any hurdle in their way to leverage the state’s strategic advantages to set up industries. He made the satetment while innaugurating the two-day Invest Kerala Global Summit (IKGS 2025) in the city on Friday.
“We have assured that no investor coming to Kerala will have to face the cobweb of procedural delays and meet barriers of red tape,” Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said while delivering his opening address to the summit at Lulu Bolgatty International Convention Centre, attended by the Union Ministers and business leaders from India and abroad.
Noting that the summit is taking place when Kerala’s investment scenario is on the cusp of a historic transformation, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the state has made major strides in simplifying procedures as regards investments.
Addressing the event, Union Minister Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary pledged total support of the Centre to Kerala’s endeavours to impart scale and speed to industrial development.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Kerala has witnessed establishment of 6,200 startups with an, investment of Rs 5,800 crore, creating 62,000 jobs. “We aim to have 15,000 startups and create 100,000 jobs by 2026,” added the Kerala Chief Mnister.
Citing a slew of legislative and policy initiatives that transformed the state’s industrial landscape, he said these changes brought about by the state government were not incremental but substantial.
“After making outstanding achievements in human development, the state is now taking a leap towards the status of an investment hub with the government playing the role of facilitator and catalyst, paying attention to formulation of policies and their last-mile implementation,” said Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
In the Ease of Doing Business index, Kerala is ranked first among Indian states and the Year of Enterprises initiative has been recognised as a best practice at the national level, said Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Kerala has a strong infrastructure base including road, air, maritime and digital connectivity, uninterrupted power and clean energy. The state offers the best human resource required for industries driven by futuristic-technology. It is for the investors to leverage these advantages in an ecosystem marked by the best Ease of Doing Business scenario, the Chief Minister said.
Holding that government has an open mind to constructive criticism on matters of development, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said when criticism itself becomes the end and not the means to achieve the end of improvement, it ceases to be constructive.
Presiding over the inaugural session, Minister for Industries, Law and Coir P Rajeeve said while Kerala is long reputed as’God’s Own Country’ as a tourism haven, the state has now also become “a Heaven of Industry.”
Union Minister Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, addressing the event online, announced 31 new road projects worth Rs 50, 000 crore for Kerala.
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said Centre will extend its full support to Kerala’s industrial and economic development initiatives, as it is keen that the entire country is working in a spirit of cooperative federalism to achieve the national goals as envisioned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary said going by its core strengths Kerala has become the ‘Gate Way to India’s Development.’
“With its talented human resource pool, Kerala can contribute immensely to India’s growth story marked by innovation, reinvention and disruption,” said Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary.
Recalling the historical ties between India and the UAE, UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touk Al Marri said there is remarkable growth in economic partnership between the two nations over the years and India is the second largest trading partner of the UAE.
“UAE is eager to collaborate with Kerala in vital sectors like food processing, tourism, technology, healthcare and space,” said UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touk Al Marri.
UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touk Al Marri, who led a 22-member delegation to the event, also lauded the talent and skilled workforce from Kerala.
Bahrain Minister of Commerce and Industry Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro said his country is looking for partnership with Kerala mainly in food security, tourism and hospitality and semiconductor sectors.
Kerala State Minister for Cooperation, Ports and Devaswoms V N Vasavan, Kerala State Minister for Culture and Fisheries Saji Cherian and Kerala State Minister for Excise and Local Self Governments M B Rajesh were present.
Kerala Assembly Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan said regardless of political differences, the collective goal is to propel Kerala into a future of economic prosperity and industrial excellence.
“The Opposition is taking an initiative for the beginning of a new culture. We are giving our full support in all aspects to make Kerala investment-friendly,” he added.
Among those present on the occasion were industry leaders Adeeb Ahmed, Anasuya Ray, Dr. Azad Moopen, Matthew Oommen, M M Murugappan, T S Kalyanaraman and Ravi Pillai.
NITI Aayog former CEO and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant; Lulu Group Chairman and M D M A Yusuf Ali, who is also Vice Chairman of Norka Roots; CII President Sanjiv Puri and Adani Ports and SEZ Limited (APSEZ) MD Karan Adani; Kerala Department of Industries and Commerce Principal Secretary A P M Mohammed Hanish and KSIDC M D Harikishore S were also present.
Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan, who welcomed the gathering to the summit, said, “Kerala is committed to leveraging its core advantages to emerge as an ethical and responsible investment destination.”
Over 3000 delegates are attending the conclave, which will focuson various verticals like AI & Robotics, Aerospace & Defence, Logistics, Lifesciences, Medical Devices & Biotech, Renewable Energy, Maritime and Packaging, Ayurveda, Food Tech, High Value-added Rubber Products, Tourism & Hospitality and Recycling & Waste Management.
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