Delegation set to tap more investments
By James Paul | 12 Dec 2001
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Kochi: A high-level delegation from Kerala left for New Delhi on 11 December to sell the state as an attractive investment destination.
Chief Minister A K Antony is leading an oversized ministerial delegation that also includes 20 officials to New Delhi, where he will discuss with central ministers and captains of industry ways to attract Rs 500-billion investments to the state in the next five years.
Kerala Finance Minister K Shankaranarayanan, Industries Minister P K Kunjalikutty, Electricity Minister K Sivadasan, Minister for Non-Resident Keralites M M Hassan and Rural Development Minister C F Thomas are accompanying Antony.
The state government is confident with a slew of investor-friendly policies announced in the field of labour, IT and industries. It has removed all the major hurdles that could dissuade investment opportunities in Kerala.
But analysts say the government is missing the whole point. Investors have kept shy of the state not due to any lack of initiatives or policies but because of the age-old perception that Kerala is not a safe place to invest due to its strong trade union culture that sustains all political parties in the state.
Entrepreneurs are not worried not so much about dealing with trade unions as the wily politicians heading them, the analysts say.
Chief Minister A K Antony is leading an oversized ministerial delegation that also includes 20 officials to New Delhi, where he will discuss with central ministers and captains of industry ways to attract Rs 500-billion investments to the state in the next five years.
Kerala Finance Minister K Shankaranarayanan, Industries Minister P K Kunjalikutty, Electricity Minister K Sivadasan, Minister for Non-Resident Keralites M M Hassan and Rural Development Minister C F Thomas are accompanying Antony.
The state government is confident with a slew of investor-friendly policies announced in the field of labour, IT and industries. It has removed all the major hurdles that could dissuade investment opportunities in Kerala.
But analysts say the government is missing the whole point. Investors have kept shy of the state not due to any lack of initiatives or policies but because of the age-old perception that Kerala is not a safe place to invest due to its strong trade union culture that sustains all political parties in the state.
Entrepreneurs are not worried not so much about dealing with trade unions as the wily politicians heading them, the analysts say.
