Kerala emerging as major investment destination: Minister

Thiruvananthapuram, May 15 (UNI) Kerala, known for its chequered labour history, is emerging as a major investment destination and many investors, including multinationals, have envisaged interest in coming into the state, Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem said here today.

''The notion that Kerala is not investor-friendly has changed. If the basic infrastructure is provided, multinationals are ready to come to Kerala,'' he told reporters while detailing the performance of his ministry during the last one year.

Industrialists were now aware that there was no basis in the allegations that Kerala was not investor-friendly and the government had no vision in attracting investments, he said, and added the 'Smart City' agreement with the Dubai-based TECOM had contradicted all allegations.

The picture would become clearer once the state's industrial policy was out, he said, and added the draft had been prepared and would come out in a week.

''Even the Non-Resident Keralities are interested in starting new ventures in the state if basic facilities were provided, and this was communicated to me while I was in Gulf recently,'' he said.

Apart from the business entities from the country, investors from Malaysia and Dubai, among other foreign nations, would be investing in the state in various sectors, Mr Kareem said.

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