The Hindu Business Line : Work on SmartCity Kochi project to begin by year-end

Malta, June 17 Work on SmartCity Kochi, the integrated township with a SEZ for knowledge-based industries, will be launched by the year-end, according to Mr Fareed Abdulrahman, Chief Executive Officer, SmartCity (Dubai) FZ-LLC.

Talking to a group of reporters from India on a tour organised by the company to witness the launch of SmartCity Malta, he said SmartCity was committed to the development of the Kochi project.

The company is looking at setting up a 250-acre facility involving investments of over $350 million to create a modern township with residential, commercial and office space for IT, ITeS and knowledge-based industries that would generate over 90,000 jobs.

The SmartCity Kochi has the SEZ approval for a 100-acre parcel of land and has been asked by the authorities to submit a separate application for an adjacent portion, separated by a water body.

The company is particular that the project is approved as a single SEZ, and is willing to accept whatever conditions are laid down — such as linking the two parcels of land with a tunnel or a bridge for them to be considered a contiguous area.

The company is awaiting the decision from Indian authorities, he said.

SmartCity Kochi has over 236 acres of land available with it and will acquire the balance to make up the 250 acres planned for the project, he said. The other project is planned in Kochi, where it has promoted a joint venture with the State Government.

He said these projects are modelled along the lines of SmartCity’s Dubai Internet City, an industry cluster and free zone for ICT companies; the Dubai Media City, a facility providing infrastructure for broadcasting, publishing and advertising companies; and Dubai Knowledge Village, a campus for learning and training.

SmartCity is a joint venture company promoted by companies within Dubai Holding — TECOM Investments and SAMA Dubai — to develop a multinational chain of knowledge industry townships.

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