KOCHI: A Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared for the ` 250-crore Electronics Manufacturing Hub by the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KINFRA) at Kochi, jointly funded by the Union and Kerala Governments.
The Union Government has already given in principle, the nod for the project. The DPR has been submitted to the Union Government for the final approval.
K N Sri Kumar, senior media advisor, KINFRA, said that the Union Government will provide ` 50 crore as grant, ` 80 crore by the State government and the rest by private players. Once the approval goes through, the project will be completed in two years.
The proposed project is for the development and providing complete infrastructural facilities for the establishment of an Electronic Manufacturing Cluster of international standards. It is intended to create an Industrial Park with all modern amenities exclusively for the electronic manufacturing industry with the assistance of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. KINFRA has 75 acres of land zoned and planned for setting up the unit at Kakkanad adjacent to the Industrial Park that already exists and can avail of its facilities. KINFRA will spearhead the development of infrastructure facilities of developed land, power, continuous water supply and communication facilities.
Target Groups
The target beneficiaries at the cluster are: manufacturers of Desktops, Laptops, Notebooks, Netbook Computers and Tablet PCs, Telecom Equipment, Mobile handsets, parts and accessories, Consumer Electronics, Colour TV Sets, Set Top Boxes, Lighting - LEDs, CFLs, LED Packaging, Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs), Industrial Electronics, Semiconductors and ATMP Memories, Electronic components, Solid State Memory Products - Memory Cards, USB drives and Electronics Manufacturing Services.
Accordng to Sri Kumar, the Kerala Government has formulated a liberal industrial policy for the investors. The policy has been devised in such a way that it can open the gateway for global opportunities for business expansion, to utilise the talent and skills of a young, vibrant and huge workforce in assimilation of technological advancements.
The main objective behind this proposition is to make the state an investmentfriendly destination and also to generate employment opportunities for the people in Kerala ensuring them a fair and decent pay package. There can be no better choice than Kochi for the project to take shape because of the innumerable advantages it encompasses- a state-of-theart international airport, aerial connectivity with all major cities in the country and the world.
An extensive rail and road network, Communication infrastructure, services from all major cellular operators in the city, relatively low prices and land availability, an investor-friendly environment, total support by the government and single-window- clearance facility, pleasant weather throughout the year, moderate variations, high social indices, availability of trained manpower from Technology, Arts and Science Colleges and an abundance of professional colleges, polytechnics and industrial training institutes in and around the city are key attractions .