Kerala CM to promote state as an investment destination

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy along with a team of officials will meet diplomats from some 30 countries, business tycoons and policymakers later this week to promote state as a major pitch for investment. Business tycoons and diplomats are expected to attend the roadshow being conducted by Oommen Chandy in New Delhi on Friday to promote the state’s second global ivestors’ meet. The roadshow will kick off the state’s massive campaign to position itself as one of the most favored business destinations in India as part of the biggest investment branding exercise of the state ahead of ‘Emerging Kerala 2012’ to be held in the state’s port city of Kochi in September, according to officials. The state has lined up a series of interactive sessions, domestic and international roadshows, business meets and conclaves to showcase the state’s investment potential and business-friendly policies. Chandy and top officials from the state, including industries minister PK Kunhalikutty, will meet the ambassadors and high commissioners as well as representatives of multilateral and bilateral agencies for discussions. TKA Nair, advisor to the Prime Minister and KM Chandrasekhar, the former cabinet secretary and vice-chairman of the Kerala State Planning Board, will interact with the diplomats, followed by a meeting with the leading industrialists and business leaders. Though Kerala ranks among the best in India in nearly all social and economic indicators, it fails to attract major industries due to the negative message the politicians send out to the investors. Emerging Kerala is being organised in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the National Association of Software & Services Companies (NASSCOM). The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) is the nodal agency for the summit. “The goal of this branding exercise is to catalyse growth through enabling policies and to facilitate an environment for investment. We need to highlight the fact that Kerala is a very lucrative, investor-friendly destination,” said Alkesh Sharma, managing director of the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC).