Emerging Kerala

[Kochi Resident]

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We need to see how many of them will materialize and how many will not. Iam worried whether IT projects too will come up since I remember there were around 9 SEZ applications and only one got approval. The one which got approval which is HDIL Cybercity or Bluestar groups has not yet started construction. Now look at the fate of Smart City. I dont feel optimistic about these after past experiences

The healthcare sector is arguably the early gainer at Emerging Kerala, attracting Rs. 3,055 crore worth of proposals, including an investment offer by six companies for Rs. 2,655 crore and a partnership project between KSIDC and private entrepreneurs for Rs. 400 crore.

This follows DM Healthcare group of Dr Azad Mooppan announcing investments worth Rs. 2,150 crore as part of ongoing projects that include an integrated medical township, super specialty hospitals and a medical college.

The second day proposals include Life Academy of Medical Sciences’ medical college-cum-super specialty hospitals in Thrissur, Thiruvanant-hapuram and Kozhikode at an estimated Rs. 1,200 crore.

Other private projects: Nano Biotech SEZ and Knowledge City by Pushpagiri Medical College Trust Rs. 875 crore, Healthcare Village in Kochi by BCG group Rs. 320 crore, Biosimilar Drugs Manufacturing Unit by Mir Life Sciences, Kochi, Rs. 130 crore, ayurveda medical college and research centre at Vagamon Rs. 30 crore by the DC School of Medical Sciences and a super specialty hospital in Ernakulam by Lifeline Hospital-Adoor Rs. 100 crore.

KSIDC has proposed a biomedical devices hub at Life Sciences Park near Thonnakkal at a cost of Rs. 400 crore over the next three to five years.
Chitra Medical Centre will have a role in the hub and Terumo Penpol has shown interest.

EMKE promises 13,000 jobs

Six months from now, EMKE group, which is to open the country’s biggest shopping mall and two hotels here, will ensure jobs to at least 13,000 people.
Group managing director Yusuffali MA told Deccan Chronicle that no longer should the youth from here struggle in the Gulf. “The Gulf model has to be replicated here. We have to ensure jobs and business right here so that our youth do not have to go out and toil,” he said.

The group, which runs a chain of malls in the Gulf under LuLu brand, employs more than 29,000 people from 27 different countries. Of this 18,000 are Indians.

The shopping mall at Edappally has more than 300 shops already booked. It will have 20 food courts, nine cinema houses and a dining centre, giving direct jobs to at least 11,000 people.

“I should do things and then talk. I cannot invite investors without investing here. And that is why at this meet I can say that people should come to Kerala and invest”, he said.

Along with the mall, the group is setting up a Marriot brand hotel, which opens by July. The other Marriot hotel near the Kochi international airport would open by the end of next month.

One among the brains behind Emerging Kerala, Mr Yusuffali says he is contended with the response and says this does not end with three days.
NRK set to launch Rs. 1,250 cr projects

It was 12 years ago that Ameer Ahamed, a non-resident Keralite from Kodungaloor, who has been in Oman for the last 28 years, burnt his fingers and wound up his one-time successful mineral water business.

But he is now back with two projects and says he is determined to set up his business in Kerala and has a point to prove to investors from across the globe that the state is an investment destination.

Mr Ameer, through his Manappat group, is to set up a multiuser mall at an estimated Rs. 250 crore at Perumbavoor, outside the city. This should provide direct employment to at least 200 people. The land has been bought and all clearances got. Work will start this year end.

The other project is an IT/ITES park near Kozhikode airport for which he has acquired 35 acres. When completed, the total investment would be around Rs. 1,000 crore, he said.

While a good part of the investment would be his own funds, he is modeling it on Sam Pitroda’s idea of a development fund, collecting small amounts from NRKs, keen on investing.

Mr Ameer Ahamed believes he can succeed and also help NRKs with small funds, without knocking at the government for assistance.
Sea plane project gets wings

The sea plane project, mooted at Emerging Kerala, got a leg-up on Thursday with chief minister Oommen Chandy assuring concessions on ATF tax rates.
Addressing a business meet on sea plane, Mr Chandy, however, said the government would pursue an open sky policy. It was encouraging to learn that there were already 58 applicants for the project.

Meanwhile, Pawan Hans, leading helicopter company, on Thursday made a strong pitch for the project, indicating its willingness to launch services in three months.

The company conducted a feasibility study and identified over 10 locations suited to launch the service, including the three airports in the state.
They are Kottapuram, Banasura Sagar, Kozhikode airport, Malampuzha, Idamalayar, Kochi-Bolgatty, Mattupetty (Idukki), Vembanad Lake (Kumarakom), Thiruvananthapuram airport, Kappil, Kollam (Ashtamudi Lake), Punnamada Lake (Alappuzha) and Munnar.

Mr Jesper Hougaard of Maldivian Air Taxi made a presentation on the sea plane operations. He said in given conditions, the sea plane could be operated at a cost of $ 1,200 for an hour.

[mohammedirshad06]

Yes, I too donot go behind the hype... Lets wait and see how many will materialize.... There are multiple factors. For example, HDIL-Bluestar was in position to invest in 2008.... But that time, it was Congress/UDF who went against it and made it delay. And when second wave recession struck, HDIL was seriously affected.

I wish, atleast this time, political opposition should be less.... We have missed N number of development bus. Must catch up atleast by now.

One major difference is that, this time, lot of Gulf based NRK companies wants to establish a strong base in Kerala. The recession and Arab spring have created an insecurity among NRKs in Gulf. Added to this, Saudi's aggressive Localization, now forces lot of NRKs to set up a base and gradually return back with employment opporunities back. This factor is a blessing, as last time in GIM, most of them were flying high in ME and was not willing to negotiate or adjust to Kerala's scenario. But this time, many will have to consider so.

[Kochi Resident]

Small projects by NRK which do not require huge tracts of land and for which much of approvals are not needed may materialize fast. But big projects which require lots of approvals particularly SEZ will be in a limbo since they will need to face opposition from all sectors.

I have high hopes on this 'Start Up Village' which even though in its infancy stage will be a huge driver for economic growth of the state.Hats off to whomever came up with this idea. Start ups always provide huge employment opportunities and at times growth opportunities which will encourage the local talent to stick to our city instead of migrating

Originally Posted by mohammedirshad06

Yes, I too donot go behind the hype... Lets wait and see how many will materialize.... There are multiple factors. For example, HDIL-Bluestar was in position to invest in 2008.... But that time, it was Congress/UDF who went against it and made it delay. And when second wave recession struck, HDIL was seriously affected.

I wish, atleast this time, political opposition should be less.... We have missed N number of development bus. Must catch up atleast by now.

One major difference is that, this time, lot of Gulf based NRK companies wants to establish a strong base in Kerala. The recession and Arab spring have created an insecurity among NRKs in Gulf. Added to this, Saudi's aggressive Localization, now forces lot of NRKs to set up a base and gradually return back with employment opporunities back. This factor is a blessing, as last time in GIM, most of them were flying high in ME and was not willing to negotiate or adjust to Kerala's scenario. But this time, many will have to consider so.

[Kochi Resident]

I hope some power and waste management projects get approval particularly the one by an NRK lady for electricity generated from waste. Because all the projects which needs to started will also need to be supplemented by alternative power. There should be availability of power for operating these projects. Otherwise they will not be able to operate

[ttand3t]

Originally Posted by mohammedirshad06

.... But that time, it was Congress/UDF who went against it and made it delay.

It was Achu who torpedoed HDIL project.

[mohammedirshad06]

Some time back, there was a discussions, what big is associated with Petrochemicals project in respect to EK... The project of BPCL was announced much eariler and some regular critics citing, the MOU signing in EK was just a show-off...

Just read this news and see how this EK benefitted these projects

Kothari Petrochems and Binai, proposes a Petrochemicals Complex in Kochi

Emerging Kerala over, investors have started evincing interest, and prominent among them is Kothari Petrochem-icals which proposes to set up a plant near Kochi Refineries.

Another player, Binani Zinc, already has its presence near Kochi, and is expected to send its team with a view to setting up a unit in the park.

A team of senior officials from Kotharis visited the site on Monday and held discussions with officials of the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation as also of Kochi Refineries.

The company would submit its proposal to KSIDC soon, KSIDC officials said. Kothari group, that has two units in Tamil Nadu, is the largest producer of premium quality polybutene in the country.

KSIDC has earmarked 3,100 acres for setting up a petrochemical park. This is in view of Kochi Refineries launching its expansion while downstream companies are expected to make use of by-products like propylene.

According to KSIDC officials, Kotharis which has a petrochemical complex in Tamil Nadu, is looking for around 20 acres to set up the plant. While details of the project have not been revealed, officials said the discussions were fruitful.

This is now where EK has its importance... Its not projects declared on one day... The effect is bound to remain for next 2 years. Hope this time, we really make up!!!!

[Kochi Resident]

Has any project materialized in 'Emerging Kerala'?

[moncy]

Originally Posted by Kochi Resident

Has any project materialized in 'Emerging Kerala'?

No reading habit ? May be HSR soon .

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by Kochi Resident

Has any project materialized in 'Emerging Kerala'?

In less than 2 weeks?

Anyway, heard a news that Govt is planning establishing a Business Secretariat in Kochi, with a CEO heading the facility and undersecretaries of 32 departments, for which statutory clearances. The facility will act like one time Single Window clearances for all projects..

[DileepKS]

Uvvaaa.. The Babus will torpedo it before you know it. OC & co have zero balls to deal with them.

[vu3nnn]

^
True. The only one among the UDF ministers who had both the guts and competency to deal with these babus was T M Jacob, and sadly, he is no more.

[Kochi Resident]

Hope something comes up soon. Iam eagerly waiting

[Asskicker]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/17344384.cms

KOCHI: The state government will come out with the list of Emerging Kerala projects that got clearance in December, said P K Kunhalikutty, minister for industries and IT, on Friday.
"The list will contain only those proposals which are non-polluting and do not harm our environment," he said while delivering the inaugural speech at Inkel Ltd's Standard Design Modules (SDM) facility at Angamaly.
Kunhalikutty also said the government will explore all avenues, including the PPP mode, to create more infrastructure facilities for non-polluting industries. "Even though Inkel was formed during the last ministry, we will give all support to the innovative ideas put forward by Inkel," he said.
SDM Angamaly holds 2 lakh square ft of space on five floors, with individual modules of 5,000 square ft each. Thirty-nine modules are available for entrepreneurs on lease or rent. Inkel is trying to attract projects in electronics, avionics, apparels, light engineering, printing and publishing, warehousing and logistics, IT and banking.