Kerala Industrial Indicators

With the new Industrial Policy announced by the Government in 2001, a number of attractive incentives is on offer for the investor. The Policy also aims to implement a number of constructive changes to increase the efficiency of the thrust sectors, small scale industrial units, medium and large scale industries and the traditional industries which will ensure a steady increase in the growth rate in the industrial sector.

GLOBAL INVESTOR MEET
The Global Investor Meet received an unprecedented massive offer to the State, of investment proposals aggregating Rs.26,000 crores. The Government is fully aware that the real success of GIM and the biggest challenge before Government lies in the translation of the Memoranda signed into projects in operation.

In order that the MoUs signed may be examined on a case-to-case basis, the projects to be implemented prioritised, the possible bottlenecks in project development identified and smooth implementation ensured, constant interaction is being maintained with the promoters by KSIDC and the various departments of the Government.

The requirements of prospective investors exploring investment opportunities in the State in the wake of GIM are also being given careful consideration. And the State Government has now devised a special mechanism for the implementation of projects taken up under GIM.

The Investment Promotion Board.
The Investment promotion Board (IPB), a committee of Secretaries headed by the Chief Secretary, has been constituted by the Government vide G.O.(Ms) No.66/2003/GAD(SC) dated 22-02-2003, based on the urgency for sustaining the phenomenal momentum that GIM has generated in the State. Devised as a fast track mechanism for clearing projects, the IPB has been formed for according preliminary clearances for projects and shall perform the functions of an empowered committee of Government.

IPB will give its recommendations to the Council of Ministers where policy and interdepartmental issues are involved and where decisions are to be taken by the Council. The IPB will also recommend clearances for the project proposals/project ideas taken up by the Board for consideration.

Mr. Jiji Thomson, IAS, Managing Director, KSIDC has been appointed as Secretary to Government (Investment promotion) and has been designated as the Member Secretary of the IPB. KSIDC is the field office for IPB and an Investment promotion Cell has been formed in KSIDC to attend to all matters relating to the IPB.

The first meeting of the IPB was held on 07-03-2003 and the second meeting on 05-04-2003. The main item on the agenda was the status review of the projects for which MoUs were signed during GIM, under the initiative of KSIDC and the various departments of State Government, on a case-to-case basis.

Issues relating to other projects under development / implementation / operation are also being considered by the Board, based on representations by the concerned units or suo motto by the Board. The respective departments have been subsequently directed to resolve the issues falling within their purview expeditiously.

SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIAL UNITS
Newly registered SSI units during 2003-04 - 53,05
Total Investment in SSI units during 2003-04 - Rs. 4031 Crores
Total number of State Level Public Sector Enterprises (as on 31-3-2004) - 113

State Level Public Sector Enterprises
Total number of State Level Public Sector Enterprises (as on 31-3-2004) was 113.

THRUST SECTORS
All 100 % export oriented units and tiny, small, medium or large units in sectors like information technology, tourism, agro-based business including food processing, ready-made garments, Ayurvedic medicines, mining, marine products, light engineering, biotechnology & rubber based industries are considered as thrust sectors. The Government