CIAL should channelise economic development : Achuthanandan

Kochi, Dec 28 (UNI) Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) Chairman and Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanadan today said the airport should channelise all-round economic development and generate employment in the state.

Speaking at the 12th annual general meeting of CIAL here, Mr Achuthanandan, in his speech said the basic economic activity generated by the airport should be amplified to higher levels by associating business ventures relating to the terminal in the near future.

He said the ongoing expansion and modernisation programmes coupled with land utilisation plan would facilitate substantial value addition to the airport and to the shareholders.

Expressing happiness over the functioning of the airport, he said it had witnessed impressive growth in both passenger and aircraft movement.

The duty free operations have increased manifold and was a major contributor to the overall revenue of the airport. The IT Park project, golf course, convention centre, star and budget hotels would be completed in a phased manner, he added.

He said a subsidiary company formed for implementing the maintenance and overhaul services would be over in 2008.

Mr Achuthanandan said CIAL was in the process of setting up an Art Centre for Perishable Cargo (CPC) with the assistance of Centre and the grant received from Agricultural Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

The facility would help in export and import of perishable items like vegetables, fruits, flowers, fish and meat products, and would have capacity of handling 30,000 MTS every year, he added.

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