Kerala needs early completion of 13 non-major ports

INVESTMENT

edition of Ascend Kerala held last year.

“We have consistently followed up on Ascend 2019. So, we are today presenting many more projects, which hold tremendous investment opportunities,” Mr. Jayarajan said.

“We are firmly resolved to forge ahead in the industrial and business sectors. Events like Ascend Kerala are part of this. I can guarantee you that your investment will be safe,” the minister added.

Mr. Yusuffali MA, Chairman and MD, Lulu Group International, said in his address that Kerala is one of the most ideal investment destinations of the world, going by every parameter.

“There is no need for any apprehension on the part of the international banking and investor community on investing in Kerala. The beneficiaries of the investment completion of its notified 13 non-operational ports considering their potential to boost the economy of the state that has a coastline of 590 km, Mr. Ramachandran Kadannappally, that they make now will be the future generations of Kerala,” Mr Yusuffali, who was a Guest of Honour at the function, added.

Noting that Kerala Government has done a commendable job in positioning the state as an attractive destination to invest, Dr. B. Ravi Pillai, Chairman and Managing Director, RP Group, said the state should continue its efforts in this direction.

Mr. Tom Jose IAS, Chief Secretary, Kerala, welcomed the delegates to the conclave. Dr K Ellangovan IAS, Principal Secretary, Industries, made a presentation on the objectives of the meet. Mr Sanjay Garg IAS, Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce, proposed the vote of thanks.

Organised by the state’s Department of Industries, ASCEND Minister for Ports said during ASCEND 2020 Kerala Global Investors Meet..

Noting that Kerala has only four non-major ports functioning besides the nine-decade-old Kochi port that is major, he said that the ongoing 2020, being held at the Lulu Bolgatty International Convention Centre, features nine sessions including six panel discussions.

The 100-odd projects, ratified by KPMG as viable based on a study by the professional services MNC, cover sectors such as petrochemicals, agro and food-processing, defence, life sciences, aeropolis, tourism and hospitality, ports and harbour, fisheries, infrastructure, mobility development, logistics and electronic hardware. Of the projects, 18 (each with investment of above Rs 100 crores) have been classified as ‘mega’. The other categories, in the descending order, are large, medium and small.

A coffee table book on the state infrastructure development agency KINFRA was released by the Chief

Kerala needs early completion of 13 non-major ports

Minister for Ports urges investors to join the government’s efforts to boost the state’s maritime trade that has a history of centuries

Kerala requires earliest

Minister on the occasion. development of the 13 others was of immense value considering the special characteristics of maritime trading.

“For one, ships consume less fuel vis-à-vis other modes of transport and, hence, emit lesser carbon. Two,

Mr. Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Tourism & Cooperation, Kerala, addressing the Tourism session at ASCEND 2020. Mr. Jose Dominic, Chairman, CGH Earth Hotels, Mrs. Rani George IAS, Secretary, Kerala Tourism, and Mr. P. Balakiran IAS, Director, Kerala Tourism, are also seen.

they can carry much larger quantities of cargo,” the minister noted at a parallel session on ‘Projects on Infrastructure: Aeropolis and Ports’. He also stressed the need for Kerala to have larger ports considering the huge size of vessels these days.

At the opening remarks of the 90-minute session on the final day of the January 9-10 event organised by Kerala’s Department of Industries, the minister listed out the names of the ports at different stages of development and called upon investors to join the government’s efforts to boost the state’s maritime trade that has a history of centuries.

Highlighting the bid to rejuvenate the Kodungallur port (Thrissur district) that had a seaport functioning from the 1st century, Mr. Ramachandran also spoke of the perceived benefits of the Azhikkal port in Kannur. Both the endeavours could invigorate coastal and hinterland trade, he noted.

Mr. V. Thulasidas, Managing Director, Kannur International Airport, in a panel discussion that followed the minister’s speech, said the Azhikkal port’s proximity (30 km) to the Kannur airport (in Mattannur) ideally made the two projects share a symbiotic relationship. The two establishments can promote transport of cargo by air as well as sea, he noted at the session moderated by Mr. Vasudevan S, Partner, KPMG in India.

Further, the Kannur airport can strengthen Kerala’s tourism north of the state, considering its connectivity with places such as Bekal (Kasargod), Wayanad and Coorg (in Karnataka, across the border) that are inviting high footfalls in recent years, Shri Thulasidas pointed out. “Kannur airport can prove to be vital to Kerala tourism in the next five years,” he added.

Mr. V. J. Mathew, Chairman of the Kerala Maritime Board, emphasised the need for the betterment of Kerala’s coastal roadways so that ports could play a big role in the state’s economic development.

Mr. Praveen Thomas Joseph, CEO of India Gateway Terminals, said the International Container Transshipment Terminal at Kochi’s Vallarpadam was expecting an expanded infrastructure by 2022.