The Hindu Business Line : `Globalisation is a threat and an opportunity'

KERALA'S natural resources and its rich value addition should be used in a careful manner to help the State in facing the challenges of globalisation, said Mr C.V. Padmarajan, Vice-Chairman of Kerala State Planning Board.

Globalisation is a process of which the State should take advantage. It is fashionable now to oppose globalisation. However, while theoretically fighting it, he said, State at the practical level should evolve ways to make the best use of it.

Non-availability of land is one of the prime problems facing the State and acquisition of land has become a difficult process, he said.

He was delivering the keynote address at the inauguration of the seminar on `Resource-based industries: Towards a new agenda for industrialisation of Kerala', organised by the International Centre for Economic Policy and Analysis (ICEPA) at the Department of Applied Economics, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT).

The Vice-Chancellor of CUSAT, Dr P.K. Abdul Aziz, urged the seminar to evolve tangible solutions to the problems facing the State so that the planners could act on the findings and suggestions from the seminar. He pointed out that the traditional sector has been neglected and quoted the example of the thousands of workers in the paddy fields and in the coir sector who lost their jobs in large numbers over the last decade.

It is time for economists to look at what had happened to these sectors and to evolve solutions so that the State could overcome its industrialisation jinx.

During the technical sessions, several papers were presented. Mr M. Mohandas, Dean, College of Cooperation and Banking, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, presented a paper on the challenges before the traditional industries in Kerala especially with reference to beedi and coir sectors.

Mr Tharian George, Deputy Director, Rubber Board, presented a paper on the rubber-based industries in the State that provided an overview of the situation. Mr Martin Patrick, and Mr S. Muraleedharan of Maharaja's College presented a paper on the food processing industry in the State with reference to the potentials and policy options.

Dr Rajasenan presented a paper that analysed the marine fisheries sector, which dealt with the sustainability of the resources and the rights over resources.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page