KOCHI: The State Government has welcomed private investments in areas ranging from ornamental fisheries to developing a world-class resort at Wagamon with plastic processing, building integrated knowledge cities, and healthcare and hospitality industry; utilisation of minerals available in the State and its agriculture produce thrown in between for possible public-private partnership.

Industries Secretary P.H. Kurien said the State Government would welcome investments from Doha Bank and the new Kerala-centric mutual fund being planned in the proposed special purpose vehicle being floated by the Government to raise funds for infrastructure development.

Mr. Kurien was making a presentation at the investors' meet organised here on Tuesday by Doha Bank, Qatar, as part of an initiative to increase economic cooperation between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

The Industries Secretary said the State was keen to cement the strong relationship between Kerala and Qatar and the GCC block as a whole.

He said that Kochi would witness investments to the tune of 5.75 b U.S. $ in the coming few years in projects like the Vallarpadam International Container Transhipment Terminal and related facilities.

Besides, Kochi would also see investments in hospitality industry, medical tourism and information technology, said Mr. Kurien.

An SEZ for plastic processing in Kasaragod district, a port at Vizhinjam, an integrated textile park in Palakkad and bio-technology park in Kochi were cited as investment opportunities, a holistic health village in Kozhikode.

A. Gopalakrishnan Nair, Director, Fisheries, Government of Kerala, made a presentation on the potential for ornamental fisheries in Kerala.

He said with sufficient investments and enterprise India could capture about 10 per cent of the business in ornamental fisheries in the world.

He also invited investments in setting up an oceanarium in Kochi for which 50 acres of land had been identified. He said the oceanarium would be built along with an international marine research centre and would involve an investment to the tune of Rs.125 crore.

He said that a company would be floated by Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) for the purpose.

Presentations were made on Kerala's tourism potential and investment opportunities. Medical tourism, industry in general and information technology and knowledge management were also part of the presentations.

Abdul Rehman bin Mohammed bin Jabor Al Thani, Managing Director and Chief Ex ecutive Officer of Doha Bank, and R. Seetharaman, Deputy CEO of Doha Bank, along with a top-level delegation from the Bank were present at the investors' meet.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail