Foreign investors looking at Kerala with great interest:Minister

Kochi, May 11 (UNI) Foreign investors were looking at Kerala with great interest, especially in areas such as information technology, tourism and manufacturing, State Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem said today.

Mr Kareem, who was the chief guest at a function here at which the Doha Bank of Qatar signed a strategic tie-up with Kerala-based Select Group, said almost every day, at least one foreign business delegation called on him, exploring investment opportunities in Kerala.

''The Italians are interested, so are the Norwegians. We are going to sign an agreement with Dubai-based TECOM for Smart City.

''One Malaysian company has proposed to set up a 'satellite city' in Kozhikode. The pre-bid discussions for the Vizhinjam International Container Transshipment Terminal attracted 32 major groups. There are proposals to revamp the Beypore Port also,'' Mr Kareem said.

However, the state needed to focus on improving its infrastructure, including roads, ports, water and power supply to tap these investment proposals, he added.

Mr Kareem, who visited several Gulf countries ten days ago, said several business groups had shown interest in the tourism and information technology sectors in the state.

UNI