The State should get rid of redundant laws to become a business-friendly destination and its people should change their negative mindset on making profits, said Chief Secretary Jiji Thompson here on Saturday.
Speaking at the inauguration of a conference on ease of doing business in Kerala, Mr. Thompson said that profit was often considered a negative word in the State, which should change.
He also said that the local bodies made procedures complex, which disheartened entrepreneurs.
The seminar was organised by the Department of Industries and Commerce in association with Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, Confederation of Indian Industry and the city-based Centre for Public Policy Research.
It was held ahead of a State-level machinery exhibition, slated to begin on January 28 in Kochi.
Changing situation
M. Beena, Managing Director of KSIDC, warned that Kerala thrived on remittances from countries like in the Middle East and that the situation there was changing rapidly with the fall in the price of crude oil.
To build businesses and enterprises here, people must change their attitude to enterprises.
She described the situation in Kerala as ‘not in my backyard’ attitude, which meant that people did not want to make any sacrifice to help enterprises.
She suggested that a dedicated team be attached to the District Industries Centres to carry out inspections so as not to waste time for the entrepreneurs as the vast majority of them were compliant. She also called for making single-window clearance more effective to encourage new enterprises.
P. M. Francis, Director, Department of Industries and Commerce, welcomed the gathering.
A total of 25 speakers and 400 delegates participated in the seminar, which deliberated on topics like adequate credit for apt business and financial literacy; permits, clearances, industrial land, tax literacy and human resources initiatives.
