Kerala to get electronic manufacturing hubs

Kochi, Apr 9 (UNI) In a step towards making Kerala a major industrial force in the country, the State Government is planning to set up two electronic manufacturing hubs in the state.

Addressing a gathering after foundation stone laying function of the electronic hardware manufacturing park at Kalamassery near here today, State Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem said two electronic manufacturing hubs would be established in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram to tap the huge potential in the sector.

The Minister said hubs would be a platform to attract world-renowed electronic manufacturing units to the state.

Mr Kareem said the the hubs would be under the product-based Special Economic Zone(SEZ) norms and KSIDC had been assigned the reponsibility to find available land for the hubs.

"India, especially Kerala has huge potential in electronic manufacturing sector considering the availability of trained manpower,'' the Minister said.

He said India was lagging behind in electronic manufacturing sector compared to the growth in China and South-east Asian countries.

He said the government was taking all measures to make the much-talked about 'Smart City' a reality in the near future.

Apart from this, a 'Digital City' would be established by KINFRA and the newly-formed infrastructure development company in Kochi.

Mr Kareem said the government had decided to hand over Kerala Hitech Industries Limited in Thiruvananthapuram to the Ministry of Defence for Defence-related manufacturing including missiles.

The Minister said as part of the revival plan for the electronic manufacturing unit Keltron in Thiruvanathapuram, the government had decided to settle the bank liabilities of the company and had already paid Rs 7.5 crore to the banks.

He said an IT-related industry would also be developed by Grasim Industries in Mavoor.

The Minister today laid the foundation stone for the Kerala's first world class electronic hardware manufacturing park in association with KINFRA with SEZ status.

UNI