Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 27 Keralam Minister for Industries and Information Technology P K Kunhalikutty on Tuesday said that the government aims to ensure that land availability does not pose a hindrance to attracting investments to the state.
Kunhalikutty, in a statement in the state Assembly, said that the government’s aim was to convert Keralam’s potential in education, innovation, and technology as well as its better living standards and strategic geographical location into investment opportunities, industries and jobs.
He said that instead of confining itself to giving permissions to investors, land, basic infrastructure, financial assistance and technical backing, among others, which are required for investment, will also be provided.
The minister said that the required land for industries was limited and resolving this challenge was the main priority of the government.
For acquiring land, besides budget allocations, the government will also consider the possibilities of institutional financing.
“Land should not be a hindrance for industrial investment. Instead, it should be converted into a resource that attracts investment. That is our aim,” he said.
To ensure timely land availability, required land would be identified in the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode as well as strategic locations like Vizhinjam, he said.
Land appropriate for investment will also be identified in other districts, he added.
Such land banks will be transformed into huge industrial zones, the minister said.
Besides that, the services of an international-level infrastructure consultancy firm will be availed to evaluate the financial and technical possibilities of the land identified for industrial investments.
With the help of the consultancy, the government aims to create a detailed project report regarding the investment possibilities in the identified areas.
(PTI News)
