THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The new industrial policy released by the Industries Department suggests a slew of measures to bring a significant change in the industrial climate of the state. Industries Minister A C Moideen, while releasing the policy to reporters here , said Kerala has been witnessing a silent revolution in the industrial sector with lot of far-sighted initiatives being taken to make it one of the most industry-friendly states in the country. The new policy was drafted taking note of the salient features of the state.
However, the seriousness of the change in the sector is yet to come to the attention of general public since there is an age-old notion the state is not industry friendly. The government’s decision to allow private industrial parks in the PPP model is one of the futuristic policies.
Private players with at least 15 acre of land in urban areas and 25 acre in the rural areas can approach the government to start private industrial parks, he said. The ancillary facilities needed to set them up will be ensured by the government. Further, multipurpose industrial zones for which 100 per cent stamp duty reduction is offered and sops for industries which create more employment, will be encouraged. The new policy gave thrust to sectors like agriculture, food processing and others.