Kerala likely to clinch deal on Smart City

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 25 (UNI) The Kerala Government and the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority (TECOM) seem to be moving closer to clinching a deal on the Smart City at Kochi with the Goverment officials and the TECOM representatives expressing satisfaction over the talks held between the two today.

TECOM representatives, after their talks with the Government, said the formal announcement on the deal was likely to be issued tomorrow.

The discussions were cordial and almost all the issues were discussed, they said and added that they would have another round of talks tomorrow before finalising the project.

TECOM International Executive Director Farid Abdul Rahaman and its senior manager Baju George, who arrived here yesterday, would hold talks with Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan before the deal is finalised.

The top Government officials who participated in today's discussions included Chief Secretary Lizzie Jacob, Law Secretary P S Gopinathan and Finance Private Secretary K Jose Cyriac.

The main issues that were discussed included the land- lease cost, Chairmanship of the Board of Directors of the joint venture company, duration of the lease and the status of the land after the expiry of the lease.

The Smart City project was envisaged as a joint sector IT cluster between TECOM and the State Government in Kakkanad at Kochi.

UNI