Invest Kerala Global Summit to Focus on Key Sectors

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
The ‘Invest Kerala Global Summit’ (IKGS 2025), scheduled in Kochi on February 21 to 22, will focus on generating investments in key sectors, especially those identified by the government’s New Industrial Policy (NIP) calibrating the state’s core potential.

The two-day summit, to be held at Lulu Bolgatty International Convention Centre, Kochi, is organised by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) on behalf of the Department of Industries & Commerce.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate IKGS 2025 and Minister for Industries, Law and Coir, P Rajeeve will preside over the inaugural session, setting the context for proceedings based on a structured agenda. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, UAE, will be the chief guest on the occasion.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari; Union Minister for Industry and Supply, Piyush Goyal and Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Jayant Chaudhari, will also be the chief guests at the inaugural session.

Prominent industrialists including M. A. Yousuf Ali, Chairman and Managing Director, LuLu Group International and Vice Chairman, NORKA ROOTS; Karan Adani, MD, Adani Ports and SEZ Limited (APSEZ); Sridhar Vembu, CEO, Zoho Corporation; Sudarshan Venu, Managing Director, TVS Motor Company; M M Murugappan, Chairman, Murugappa Group; Ravi Pillai, Chairman, RP Group; Amitabh Kant, IAS, G20 Sherpa and Ex-CEO, Niti Ayog; and Sanjiv Puri, President, CII & Chairman and Managing Director, ITC Limited, will also be present.

A clutch of global industry leaders and more than 2,500 prospective investors will converge at IKGS 2025. The focus sectors of the summit include sustainable technologies, innovation & industry 4.0, strategic industries, innovation in health, fintech, tourism and food processing.

The event will also have country focused sessions where investment opportunities from eight countries including Germany, Vietnam, Norway, UAE, France and Malaysia will be explored. Besides, Ambassadors from 24 countries are also expected to attend the summit.

APM Mohammed Hanish, Principal Secretary, Industries & Commerce, said the structured business conclave aims to attract investments and scale up those segments which already have a footprint in the state.

The government had conducted a series of pre-summit events focusing on specific sectors to showcase the 22 priority areas, which have received highly encouraging response from the industry stakeholders.

S Harikishore, Managing Director, KSDIC, said the country focused sessions will seek to strike partnerships with overseas companies and investors in different verticals, since Kerala promises a highly conducive ecosystem defined by a world-class infrastructure, sustainable policies and well-qualified professional talent.

“It is significant to note that IKGS coincides with Kerala’s transition into a knowledge-economy by leveraging its strategic advantages as an ideal destination for clean and green enterprises that align well with sustainable development goals,” he said.

The summit is also meant to augment employment opportunities, create a major economic impact, besides strengthening education and skill development initiatives, Harikishore added.

A high-level state delegation to the 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, led by Shri Rajeeve, held numerous one-on-one meetings and interactions focusing on various verticals ranging from high-tech to MSMEs in Kerala, which now tops the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) ranking in India. Stakeholders with whom the delegation interacted with at Davos, evinced keen interest in IKGS 2025.

The Invest Kerala Pavilion at Davos featured the state government’s New Industrial Policy and a slew of other path-breaking initiatives that have transformed the state into a flourishing sustainable, industrial destination.

Showcasing Kerala’s innovative and thriving MedTech ecosystem, as many as six companies represented the state in the Arab Health 2025 expo, the Middle East’s largest healthcare event held recently at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

As the run-up to the summit, KSIDC hosted more than 40 sectoral meetings like the Gen AI Conclave, Kerala Automotive Technology Summit (KATS 2025), International Robotics Roundtable, Bio Connect 2.0, Startup Conclave, Vizhinjam Conclave and the Malabar Conclave. It also conducted various roadshows inside and outside the country.

The build-up events got overwhelming response from stakeholders of respective industries and sectors.