The Hindu Business Line : Adopt new technology, Kerala governor tells SMEs

Kochi, Sept. 27 A three-day ‘Trade and Technology Business Show’ (TTBS), to showcase the key sectors in Kerala’s industry, commenced here on Thursday with a call to adopt newer technologies by the SME sector to meet the challenges.

Inaugurating the function, the Kerala Governor, Mr R.L. Bhatia, pointed out that Kerala is steadily evolving for competition in the new global scenario and it is difficult for the SME sector to withstand without adapting to newer technologies.

He said that the three-day show would enable the industry to update the technology and this would be an opportunity for both manufacturers and sellers to reach out to national and international markets.

He hoped that the show would transform Kerala into a manufacturing State more from a consumer State.

New technologies

Speaking on the occasion, the State Industries Minister, Mr Elamaram Kareem, said that despite Rs 17,000-crore worth of goods and services being produced by the State SMEs, they were not getting access to modern technologies. He said that new technology should be adopted by traditional industries for their rejuvenation.

The Minister said that the business meets organised by the Government earlier had received good response from outside and the meet held last year was able to generate Rs 25 crore business deal.

This year, the Government is expecting a Rs 50-crore business deal and selected products from seven sectors, including food and agro processing, ayurveda and herbal, coir, handloom, handicraft, bamboo and screw pine, and rubber and rubber products. Over 150 domestic buyers and 50 international buyers from 14 countries are participating in the meet, he added.

Major role

According to the Minister, SSI and traditional sectors have a major role to play in the Kerala industrial sector.

Though the Government is taking all steps for the development of the industry, there is a need for more concerted effort for the revival of industrial units, he said, adding that the Government, of late, has taken various measures to showcase Kerala as an investment destination on account of its various advantages like climatic conditions, human resources, connectivity etc.

The meet is organised by Department of Industries in association with the Kerala Bureau of Industrial Promotion, Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) and Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Kinfra).

More Stories on : SSI | Technology | Tamil Nadu

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