Date:13/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/13/stories/2006081304041500.htm

Business

Government to form company to acquire land and create infrastructure

Special Correspondent

Majority equity participation to be from the private sector

Government's Commerce Department to be strengthened

`KINFRA, KSIDC to be more effective'

KOCHI: Industries Minister Elamaram Karim has said the State Government was in the process of establishing a company exclusively for acquiring land and creating infrastructure.

He was addressing members of the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Friday on the occasion of the 149th annual general meeting of the chamber.

The Minister said the company was being formulated with majority equity participation from the private sector. He recalled that recently the Government had held a session in Kochi and the response was `very encouraging.'

"This company will invest in land, develop infrastructure and offer it to large groups to set up industries," he said. "KINFRA and KSIDC will continue to play their roles more effectively and efficiently," he added.

The Minister told the gathering that a single window clearance system was in place at present though it was not effective. He assured the members that this would be strengthened. "The task force chaired by the Chief Minister will be meeting next month and a strategy for strengthening the single window clearance is being worked out," he said. Mr. Karim said steps were being initiated to strengthen the Commerce Department in Government. Government assistance was available for industries that participated in exhibitions and fairs within the country and abroad. Government was also taking earnest efforts to promote export from the State. A meeting, associating all the export councils, is being planned on August 31. The Union Minister of State for Commerce is expected to attend, the Minister informed.

The Minister said the Government welcomed the suggestion to organise investor meets. This was being done at two levels. The Government was planning to identify the raw material strength, market strength and infrastructure availability and offer these to investors at the meet, he noted.

Presiding over the meeting, the outgoing President of the Chamber N. Sreekumar said the State Government's decision to exempt IT and Tourism sectors from general strikes and hartals was a welcome step and hoped the same would be extended to other sectors like Shipping.

Further, the proposal to form a special vehicle similar to that of the Cochin International Airport for infrastructure development would put the State on development path, he said.