THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty on Friday said that with the efficient functioning of the Industries and Commerce Departments, a tremendous growth recorded in the employment generation and number of investments in micro, small and medium-scale industries in the state during the financial year 2011-12.
During the period, 12,543 micro, small and medium industries have started functioning in the state. While, 9,932 have started in the production sector, 2,611 are in the service sector.
With the help of the projects, the state could create an invest of Rs 1,334.20 crore and 65,976 employment opportunities. Ernakulam district tops the list with 1,936 units followed by Kollam district with 1,366.
When 8,840 memorandums were filed during the year 2010-11, it is 9,471 during the last fiscal. An increase of 42 per cent was recorded in starting new industrial ventures. The majority of the industries are in light/general engineering categories. Textiles/garments and food processing come second and third positions respectively.
District Industries Centres had identified 18,376 entrepreneurs through hand- holding and 10,039 have started various industrial ventures. The government has provided Rs 7.98 crore as capital investment subsidy to 352 entrepreneurs and Rs 5.54 crore as margin money loan to 311 persons.
A grant of Rs 1.13 crore was given to 224 young entrepreneurs under self-employment scheme and Rs 2 crore was given to 211 women as margin money grant.
Financial assistance to the tune of Rs 11.62 crore was given to 851 youth under the Prime Minister’s employment generation project. In the financial year, entrepreneurs have shown interest to start 506 new projects by investing Rs 436 crore.
The Minister said that an entrepreneur support programme would be implemented in the state during this fiscal. All the projects will be brought under one umbrella and the Department will spend Rs 25.40 crore for the project.
Industrial estates will be established in Thiruvananthapuram and Malappuram districts. Industrial parks will be established under public-private-panchayat partnership basis with the cooperation of local bodies.
There are plans to spend Rs 24.20 crore including the Union Government fund for infrastructure development. The Department has allotted Rs 59.30 crore for various development activities in the industries sector.