The feasibility of linking Kerala with the Chennai-Bangalore National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) will be studied by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), said Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry E M Sudarsana Natchiappan.He was speaking at an interactive meeting organised by the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) here on Tuesday.
He said an expert committee comprising 1,400 experts will be formed by Jica to carry out the study in two months.
“After getting the feasibility report, the possibility of forming a special purpose vehicle with the help of state governments would be explored. It is possible to link Kochi with Coimbatore and Thiruvananthapuram with Tirunelveli as a garland of the Chennai-Bangalore corridor project. Without connecting the industrial areas of the southern states, the purpose of the 160-km-long Chennai-Bangalore NIMZ will not be served,” the minister said. He added that the project will only be implemented after carrying out proper study on its impact on ecosystem. “If all goes well, the state will get better connectivity with this single project,” he said. Referring to the delay in executing the Vizinjam project, the minister said the Union Government was ready to hold talks with the stakeholders to implement the project.
Referring to the dumping of Chinese products in the country, the minister said the stakeholders should come forward with concrete complaints against Chinese products.
“Funds provided under the JNNURM for city modernisation should be intelligently tapped by the Chambers of Commerce and Industry by creating waste management projects. Providing low interest rate loans to MSME sector will be considered by the government. ,” he said.