THE NORTH MALABAR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS ALL SET TO EMBRACE THE NEW-AGE DEVELOPMENT IN THE REGION
Text: Shalet James Photos: Aghil Menon & Midhun Vijayan
Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala :“The government will ensure adequate infrastructure in the tourism sector and hopes to generate about four lakh jobs for the sector by evolving programmes to increase the inflow of tourists to various destinations in the State. The government aims to attract maximum number of investors to Kerala by providing them good facilities and support.”
With an aim to provide immense investment opportunities, The North Malabar Chamber of Commerce (NMCC) organised a business investment meet – “Invest in North Malabar”- at Marriot, Kochi on August 6, 2016. The event focused on possibilities of investments in health, tourism, education, agriculture, food processing and technology. The main objective of the event is to attract domestic and foreign investments for the development of the region.
Inaugurating the meet Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala lauded the initiative and spoke about how the event will open doors for The North Malabar to set up a sustainable and transformational environment to promote all-round growth in the region. “The government’s priority would be on ensuring adequate infrastructure in the tourism sector. We hope to generate about four lakh jobs in the tourism sector by evolving programmes to increase the inflow of tourists to various destinations in the State. Government will promote and encourage these types of initiatives,” said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Pointing out North Malabar’s potential to develop into a world class tourist destination, Chief Minister said that tourist destinations like the Muzhappilangad beach, rated among the best five drive-inbeaches by the BBC, Paithalmala, Palakkayam thattu, Kanjirakolli, Palachuram, Ranipuram, Aaralam wildlife sanctuary and Ezhimala are awaiting development. The government would explore the tourism possibilities of these regions.
Sushil Aaron, President, NMCC “The conclave, no doubt, gained the necessary visibility and succeeded in reaching out to the industrialists, policy makers and the international business community to launch new initiatives in North Malabar.”
He also mentioned that Kannur is all set for a significant economic surge with the Kannur International Airport & Azhikkal Port becoming operational shortly and Kannur being elevated to the status of a Municipal Corporation. The government is determined to attract the maximum number of investors by providing them all the facilities and required help. “The government would start treatment methods that combine the best of elements in Ayurveda and Allopathy as North Malabar is noted for the Ayurveda sector, especially in Kalari-Marma treatment and rejuvenation therapy,” he added.
Ensuring to create an investment friendly climate by easing the process of doing business, Chief Minister also said that the State’s development agenda will be not only confined to the cities alone, as the model of extending development initiatives to villages had encouraged multinational companies to come to Kerala. Speaking on the unlimited investment opportunities, E.P Jayarajan, Minister for Industries and Sports emphasized on the need to promote tourism in Kerala and its development possibilities.
E.P Jayarajan, Minister for Industries and Sports,Government of Kerala. “We will create an investmentfriendly climate in Kerala for investors by easing the process of doing business.”
“We should strengthen the business sector in Kerala. A major boost will be given to Handloom industry and weavers will be encouraged to enhance the sagging sector. This investor meet is a first step in setting up a sustainable and transformational environment to promote an all-round growth in the region. A technical team has to be set up to help develop skills and knowledge to invest profitably in the region and deliver developmental benefits to the people living in the region,” he added. The meet invited visionaries to be an integral part of the development activities of Kannur in order to ensure that an ambitious strategic framework is set to create a series of distinct steps to future. Addressing the event, M.A Yousuf Ali Chairman and Managing Director, LULU Group spoke how tourism can be enhanced in Kerala. “Lets embrace change and work for the betterment of our state, he said. Establishing Lulu Mall in Cochin, we have provided employment for more than 10,000 people here. We should not delay in taking up projects that could be an asset to our state.
Journalists should give more emphasis on ‘Developmental Journalism’ so that people are provided information or knowledge that is helpful to the development, and look at the process critically and find out the problems. They have to raise the consciousness of the people about national development and mobilize people to participate in the development process,” he added.Delivering the key note address in the event, UAE-based entrepreneur Dr. Azad Moopen, CMD of DM Aster Health Care Ltd said that a single window system should be set up by a high-level committee headed by the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for clearance of mega projects and for attracting more investors to the state. He also said that the DM Aster had invested over Rs 15 billion for the last 15 years in Kerala and provided employment to over 8,500 people.
M.A. Yousuf Ali,Chairman and Managing Director, LuLu Group. “Do not delay in taking up projects that could be an asset to our state. Embrace change and work for the betterment of our state.”
Strongly recommending investors to come to the state with their new projects, Moopen described his positive experience of investing in the state. As a tip for overseas investors to be successful in the long term, Moopen advised to appoint talented local professional management for better functioning. Dr Moopen reiterated he is continuing his commitment to the state and North Malabar with a new project (Hospital) worth Rs 1.5 billion project in Kannur, providing employment to around 1,500 people. He added the group was building another hospital in Trivandrum.The meet also emphasized the need to work together with governments, investors and business men to strengthen the business environment in the region, increase access to international markets, and give more people access to financial services to be more productive through suitable economic policies, good governance which is open to trade and investment.
Commenting on the success of the meet, President Sushil Aaron said, “More than 400 people participated in the meet. The Chamber was able to convince the government to deliver as per the people’s needs and expectations. “The conclave, no doubt, gained the necessary visibility and succeeded in offering the necessary impetus in reaching out to business leaders, investors, corporations, thought leaders and policy makers under a common umbrella to understand and explore business opportunities in the region. This would be possible through innovative and strategic thinking and making use of their local knowledge, innovative ideas and international experience,” he added.
Azad Moopen, CMD of DM Aster Health Care Ltd. “A single window system should be set up by a high-level committee, headed by the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for clearance of mega projects and for attracting more investors to the state.”
We have already started seeing changes through a slew of novel attractive policies. Works in the public sector management, has gained momentum and now become more systematic and solution centric.”Explaining about the highlights of the event, C.V Dileep, Vice President of NMCC said, “The Government has agreed to appoint a special officer to follow up on the projects in the North Malabar region and give advisory support. Government Agencies like KSIDC, KINFRA and the DIC have given details of land available in the region for investment. Also, KIAL has made an offer to avail space for Business Lounge and hotels and an offer to run Duty Free Shops at the airport.
The Chamber has no doubt, succeeded in initiating an action chain to develop business models that offer potential which is both a commercial success and has a developmental impact.” Emphasizing on promoting the event, Sachin Suryakant, Secretary of NMCC said, “In order to promote all-round growth in the region, we should ensure that we have a strong rule of law, better regulations, and increased transparency and reduced trade barriers. The tax system should also be investor- friendly and the judicial system should be capable of resolving disputes quickly and affordably.
“We now have to work with governments, investors and businesses to strengthen the business environment in the region, increase access to international markets, and give more people access to financial services to be more productive through suitable economic policies, good governance which is open to trade and investment,” he added. The meet witnessed an active participation of business leaders, investors, corporations, thought leaders and policy makers, while serving them a podium to understand and explore business opportunities in the region.