Minister calls for more investment in IT sector

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Giving emphasis to asset creation and promoting investment in the IT sector would help Kerala emerge as an attractive destination for investments, Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty has said.  Replying to the discussion in the Assembly on Thursday on the demand for grants for Industries and Urban Development departments worth Rs 277.85 crore and Rs 295.79 crore respectively, Kunhalikutty said that ‘Emerging Kerala’ would not be an event similar to the GIM organised during the previous UDF regime. Instead, it would  be a realistic approach to attract  investors to the state. Electronics and IT sectors would be given priority and it would be implemented under public private participation/ private and through other initiatives. He said following the economic slowdown in the US and European countries India has become an attractive destination for investors.  He said Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) would invest Rs 18,000 crore for capacity expansion in the state.  A MoU had been signed with GAIL for a gas project. When the GAIL’s gas pipeline becomes a reality, prospects for several gas-based industries would brighten.  He said Industries Department would give all possible assistance to the local bodies which are ready to make the land available for setting up industries. Public-Private- Panchayat participation (PPPP) model would  be initiated under the Industries Department. The Kerala High speed Rail Corporation had been registered to implement the metro rail project. The feasibility study report prepared by the Delhi Metro Corporation is being readied and the project is expected to cost Rs 77,000 crore. He said 10 new public sector units would start functioning from this year in state.  Efforts would be made to start new industrial parks under the aegis of Kinfra.  A sum of Rs 14 crore was sanctioned for the textile sector. IT MISSION TO BE RESTRUCTURED The Minister said during the LDF rule undue importance was given to certain projects like Catfoss, Icfoss, and Finishing school. To rectify this, IT Mission would be restructured.  Kannur and Palakkad districts would be made E-districts as pilot projects. E-procurement and e-governance would be extended to more departments.