KOCHI:
Kerala is set to explore the prospects of a quantum jump in its economy, as the state government is hosting from Thursday a two-day international conference that will present 100-plus big-ticket projects with feasibility.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the January 9-10 ASCEND 2020 Global Investors Meet being held in this industrial city, where 2,000 delegates will converge with the aim of lending pace to the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ in the state. Organised by the state’s Department of Industries, ASCEND 2020 at Lulu Bolgatty International Convention Centre will feature nine sessions including six panel discussions.
The 100-odd projects, ratified by KPMG as viable based on a study by the professional services MNC, covers sectors such as petrochemicals, agro & food-processing, defence, life sciences, aeropolis, tourism & hospitality, ports and harbour, fisheries, infrastructure, mobility development, logistics and electronic hardware. Of the projects, 18 (each with investment of above Rs 100 crore) have been classified as ‘mega’. The other categories, in the descending order, are large, medium and small.
The CM will declare the meet at the session to be presided over by Industries Minister E P Jayarajan. Other speakers will be Industries and Norka Principal Secretary Dr K Ellangovan, Kerala Chief Secretary Tom Jose and Industries and Commerce Principal Secretary Sanjay Garg.
Thursday will see two panel discussions led by top industrialists. The first is on ‘Perspectives of Global Investors’, while the second is on ‘Perspectives of Successful Investors’. A post-lunch plenary session will see top bureaucrats discussing ‘Key Enablers for Industrial Reforms’. From 4 pm, there will be three parallel sessions: ‘Projects on Industrial Parks, Logistics and MSMEs’, ‘Projects on Mobility Development and Electric Vehicles’ and ‘Projects on Life Sciences, Healthcare and Ayurveda’, with the respective participation of Ministers Jayarajan, A K Saseendran and K K Shailaja.
Friday’s procedures will start with a plenary session on ‘Industry 4.0: Trends and Impact for Future’. This will be followed by three parallel sessions holding panel discussions, with opening remarks by ministers Kadakampally Surendran (‘Projects on Tourism and Hospitality’), V S Sunilkumar (‘Projects on Agro and Food Processing’) and Ramachandran Kadannappally (‘Projects on Aeropolis and Ports’). Post lunch, there will be three parallel sessions: ‘Feedback and Declaration of Intent by Investors’, ‘Rebuild Kerala Initiative – Investors Perspectives’ and ‘Presentation on Kerala Infrastructure Fund’.
At evening, the CM will address the valedictory session, where Minister Jayarajan is to make closing remarks.
