Committee to study issues hampering Commerce sector:Minister

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 5 (UNI) Kerala Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem today said the State Government had constituted a five-member committee to study the issues hampering the growth of the Commerce sector in the State.

Talking to newspersons here, he said he had asked the committee, chaired by Social Welfare Secretary Lida Jacob, to suggest practical solutions for faster growth of the sector.

Though the State had made rapid strides in its core competent areas like tourism, service and social development, there were many factors that hampered the growth of the commerce sector, the Minister said.

Mr Kareem said the committee would examine the impact of Commerce sector on the state's economy, analyse the merits and demerits of the sector with reference to Kerala, study the existing discrepancies, if any, and submit a report to the Government within three months.

''As the new Industrial policy of the State recognises the potential of the commerce sector, the government proposes to study in detail, the issues that hamper the growth of the sector,'' he said.

Mr Kareem also said the Government planned to open Trade Convention Centres in the State. The Calicut Chamber of Commerce has identified a site for such a centre and the Government would provide necessary assistance for the project. The trade centres would follow the footsteps of Tamil Nadu, as the State could not provide 'maidans' like 'Pragathi' in Delhi, he added.

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