'World Investors Meet' by state's business community in July

With an aim to bring a comprehensive development to Kerala, specially at the Panchayat level, by attracting investment in identified sectors, a two-day 'World Investors Meet' would be held by the state's business community here from July 24. The meet would invite global investors to explore the immense investment potential in the panchayaths of Kerala, K M Abdulla, Chairman, Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI), the organisers, said. Investors would participate in business conclaves for sectors including tourism, IT, food processing, rural retail, media, infrastructure, financial services, education, electrical, electronics, light engineering, logistics, rubber and other agro based products, he said. KCCI had already completed a study in all the panchayaths about the feasibility of starting new enterprises and also held detailed discussions with the stakeholders, he said. The meet has received encouraging responses from all corners and at a time when the economy is ruled by negative emotions, "optimism" has a great role to play and so "Focus Kerala is futuristic," he said. The conclave aims at showcasing viable projects and creating opportunities for investors to interact with policy makers and successful entrepreneurs in each sectors, Abdulla said. Besides tremendous potential in tourism, the state has a highly developed healthcare delivery system and many key raw materials for the thriving of food processing sector, which has the potential to become a Rs 30,000 crore industry in less than a decade, he said. The chamber would act as a nodal agency for all the investors to get local clearances and liason with the government, he said. Inspite of being one of the primary destinations in the East for foreign traders since time immemorial, Kerala was branded for labour agitations and "indifference" in attitude of the public towards investors, he said.

Source:www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200906251131.htm