Manufacturers in Kerala should come out with more value-added products if they want to compete in the global market, said minister for public works V. K. Ebrahimkunju on Thursday. He was inaugurating the three-day Kerala Business-to-Business Meet 2016 at the CIAL Trade Fair and Exhibition Centre in Nedumbassery.
A press release from the organisers of B2B meet cited him as saying that the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) played a very crucial role in the overall economic development of the State. The meet will provide the SMEs in Kerala greater exposure to businesses outside the State.
Unveiling the Buyer and Seller Directories, minister for fisheries K. Babu said that Kerala had witnessed around 12 per cent industrial growth in the past four years, which is very high compared to other States in the country.
The government has been focussing on five key areas including manpower, raw materials, capital, favourable political climate and marketing for the promotion of industrial growth in the State, he added.
Anwar Sadath, MLA, said that the government had been keen on promoting an industry-friendly climate in Kerala and had provided all possible support to individuals who wanted to start new businesses in the State.
P. H. Kurian, principal secretary, industries and IT, said that the2016 B2B meet, like in the past years, was an effort to scale up the SME sector in Kerala.
