Kerala's efforts to woo US industrialists yield results

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 9 (UNI) Efforts of a Kerala delegation currently touring the United States to attract increased industrial investments into the state have evoked good response among the industrial and commerce fraternity in Washington DC and New York.

The official delegation led by Home and Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem visited Washington DC on November five, a release here today said.

Nest Group of Kerala is a supplier and assembler for GE Healthcare from its facility in Kochi, and SFO Technologies, a company in the Nest Group, and GE Healthcare signed a cooperation agreement in the presence of the delegation. GE Healthcare is contemplating further expansion of their activities in India, the release said.

The delegation visited headquarters of Marriott Corporation in Bethesda, Maryland, and held discussion with its senior officials about their plans for India and Kerala. Marriott informed that they were in the process of opening a large number of hotels in different categories across India and Kerala is in high on their priority.

M/s Opterna, a hi-tech company based in DC signed an MOU with the Kerala Government during the delegation's visit regarding their plans to set up a manufacturing facility in the state.

The delegation visited the New Jersey plant of EPV Solar, manufacturer of photovoltaic panels. They are in the process of setting up a manufacturing unit in KINFRA-Nest SEZ, Kalamassery, with an investment of Rs 4,000 crore, the release said.

The delegation also had a meeting with leading cashew importers in New York. These companies source substantial part of their cashew from India and undertake further value addition. Cashew importers informed the delegation of their areas of concern and how they would like to work with the state government for improvement in quality and processing.

The delegation had met leading Malayalee professionals who expressed their desire to make a network of Malayalee professionals working in the US in modern technology areas such as nanotechnology and biotech so as to bring to the state projects in these sectors.

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