'Govt to decide soon on Smart City project'

Kochi, Nov 9: Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today said the government was in the process of taking a final decision on the Smart City information technology park here after holding talks with the Dubai Internet City (DIC), the promoters of the project.

Inaugurating a workshop on 'Developmental Agenda for Employment Generation in Kerala', Mr Achuthanandan said his government was keen to tap the employment generation potential of the Information Technology sector for Kerala.

Mr Achuthanandan, who had earlier opposed the Smart City project, mooted by the previous UDF Government, as a ''real estate deal'' and insisted on a renegotiation of the terms and conditions, said he was confident that an understanding will be reached with the DIC on the project.

To this end, the government was focusing on developing the necessary infrastructure. The Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram would be expanded and attention would also be paid to developing the Infopark in Kochi.

On the controversial Smart City project, mooted by the previous UDF Government and renegotiated by the LDF government with the promoters Dubai Internet City, the chief minister said discussions had been held and the government was moving towards a decision on it.

Describing the problem of unemployment as a serious issue facing Kerala, the chief minister said there was a need to create employment opportunities not only for the highly educated and skilled sections but also those who were not so well educated.

At the same time, he also called for a change in the mindset of the people and said that they should not hanker only for white collar jobs. ''Right now, even those who have passed class tenth do not want to work in the fields. This has led to a shortage of agricultural labour in the state,'' the chief minister added.

There was a need to revive the traditional and agro-based industries, which could contribute in a big way to creating employment for the common man, he said.

Stressing the role of the private sector in employment generation, Mr Achuthanandan said the government alone could not tackle the problem of job creation. Earlier, in his keynote address, Dr G C Gopala Pillai, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore (FACT) identified tourism, food processing, biotechnology, garment and retail industry and information technology as areas with potential to create employment for Keralites.

However, there was a need to improve the investment climate in the state he said and noted that as per a study by the CII covering 18 states, Kerala had been ranked 13 in terms of investment climate.

This was despite the top ranking enjoyed by the state in law and order and education and health expenditure.

''It is imperative that the negative perceptions, real or perceived of the state are changed in order that private domestic and foreign direct investment is channelised for the creation of wealth for the entrepreneur and the development of the state,'' he added.

Also present at the workshop, organised by the Kerala Management Association to mark the golen jubilee year of the state's formation, were KMA president Sunil K Zachariah and former president of All India Management Association T T Thomas.

Later, presentations were made by Mr T Damu, Vice-President, Taj Group of Hotels on the employment generation potential of Tourism sector, by Mr Anil Kumar, Head, Reliance Retail-Kerala, on the Retail sector, Dr George Sleeba, Executive Director, FACT, on the Manufacturing sector, Dr P K Michael Tharakan on Traditional Industries, Mr Venu Krishnan, Deputy Managing Director, Hotel Leela Venture Ltd. on Garments sector, Mr K S Kumar, Head, Asia Pacific and Europe, Sutherland Global Inc. on IT/BPO and by Mr George Paul, Director, Synthite Group of Companies, on Agro Foods.

UNI