Southern States - Kerala   

50 p.c. of GIM projects caught in row: Minister

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI JUNE 14. The Industries Minister, P.K. Kunhalikutty, has said that about 50 per cent of the projects approved at the Global Investor Meet (GIM) in Kochi in January are caught in controversy and this did not augur well for the State.

The Minister was speaking at the inauguration of A&B Toolers and the stone laying ceremony of Zeba Lab Furniture and Bash-P International at the KINFRA Export Promotion Industrial Park, Kakkanad, on Saturday.

Mr. Kunhalikutty reiterated his plea that not everyone in Kerala was in favour of industrialisation. While the State had no option but to go on for industrialisation, there was a section, which vehemently opposed the process, he claimed.

In a veiled reference to the ongoing row over sand mining along the coast, the Minister said that most of these controversies were uncalled for. He said that people had to be made aware of the urgent need for speedy industrialisation of the State. The project that was opened today and the two projects for which foundation were laid, were part of the memoranda of understanding signed at the Global Investor Meet in January.

A&B Toolers is a fully export-oriented commercial tool room developed at the KINFRA Park at Kakkanad in a 2,100 sq. ft. of built up area. The project cost is $ 5,00,000 and it will provide employment to 40 technicians.

Zeba Lab Furniture will manufacture state-of-the-art laboratory furniture in collaboration with a Paris-based company. The unit, to be set up at a cost of Rs. 1.20 crores will be operational in three months. It will employ 40 skilled workers.

Bash-P International will produce loose lifting gears used in marine and oil industries. The project cost is Rs. 3 crores and it will employ 30 people.

The chairman of KINFRA Export Promotion Industrial Parks, G.C. Gopala Pillai, said that KINFRA was acquiring 219 acres more of land adjacent to the present park to provide space to industrial units, which had sought to set up units at Kakkanad. He said that there were 40 units that were in queue for space at the Park.

The local MLA, K. Babu, the Industries Secretary, P.H. Kurien, the promoter of Afif group of companies, Saudi Arabia, Abdullah A.S. Al-Afif, the president of the Thrikkakara grama panchayat, M.E. Hassainar, and the managing director of the KINFRA Park, V.N.P. Kaimal, were among those present on the occasion.

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