'Kerala must play to its strengths for growth'

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) wants Kerala to lay out a strategy for growth ‘by playing to its known strengths’.

It need not necessarily take a leaf from the books of peers, said Mr V.K. Mathews, CII-Kerala, and Executive Chairman, IBS Software Services.

CONTINUED STRESS

Briefing newspersons on second State council meeting of the CII, he said this meant continued stress on services sector, including IT, tourism and hospitality.

The state council also sought to set great store on the retail, non-banking financial companies, health and education as future ‘verticals’ for driving growth.

Non-polluting manufacturing and value-added organic farming are two other new areas of enterprise that the State council is looking to grow.

The CII strategy for growth is driven by a ‘powerful vision’ that leverages these strengths of the State, Mr Mathews said.

The core themes are a green, clean and safe industry that promotes an inclusive, empowered and egalitarian growth.

It should be law-abiding and legitimate on the one hand, and educated and global in outlook with a stress on quality, productivity and efficiency.

‘MEANINGFUL HAPPINESS’

The vision is to make the state the finest place to live and work. ‘Meaningful happiness’ is the ultimate objective.

The moot issue is implementing the strategy through perception management and promotion of target sectors as stated above.

This would have a bearing on what Mr Mathews described as ‘identified horizontals’ for growth across the spectrum.

These are infrastructure, skill development, entrepreneurship and innovation, and reforms and governance.

"Our motto is less government and more governance,” Mr Mathews said, which is true of the nature of CII’s national level engagement.

According to Mr C.J. George, Vice-Chairman, CII-Kerala, a centre of excellence would be set up for the micro, small and medium sector in the state.

CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

This would be a national-level centre for MSMEs, in line with CII initiatives for other sectors of the economy in other states.

CII-Kerala also proposed to bring out a book on entrepreneurs in the State featuring mostly members of the first-generation, Mr George said.

The book is expected to be brought in time with the ‘Emerging Kerala’ investment initiative to be held in September in Kochi.

A jury headed by Mr K. M. Chandrasekhar, Vice-Chairman, Kerala Planning Board, would select the names of entrepreneurs to be featured in the book.

According to Mr George, who is also Managing Director of Geojit BNP Paribas, restive labour is no longer an issue with Kerala.

This perception about the State has to change, he said, because scale, structure and governance issues pertaining to enterprise have disconnected with the past.

“This reality is not yet reflected in the perception about industrial relations in the state,” he added.

This is sought to be addressed through the new book on entrepreneurship which would showcase successful cases of clean, green and sustaining ventures locally.

Also present on the occasion were Mr P. Ganesh, past chairman, CII-Kerala; and Mr C. Padmakumar, Chairman, CII-Thiruvananthapuram zone.

vinson.kurian@thehindu.co.in

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