Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty said the government was ready to set up satellite IT parks in all constituencies where land is made available.
Replying to the discussion on demands for grants in the Assembly, he said that the delay in setting up the parks was due to problems related to land acquisition.
He said that from now on the government would not hand over land to INKEL. He told Aranmula MLA K Sivadasan Nair that the government would soon re-notify the industrial area there excluding the minimum land required for the airport project. ‘Emerging Kerala’ meet to be held at Kochi in September would attract more industrial investment and lead to state’s industrial growth, he said. He said that investment should come with technology.
Sixteen ambassadors from Arab countries have assured that they would be attending Emerging Kerala meet. Industrial houses from European countries and US have also intimated that their representatives would attend the meet, he said.
Coir exports touch Rs 1052 crore
Minister for Revenue and Coir Industry Adoor Prakash said that coir exports from the state was Rs 1052 crore during 2011-12 compared to Rs 807 crore during 2010-11. The wages of coir workers have increased by 40 to 45 percent.
The income support price being granted to cooperatives would help raise the daily wages of workers in cooperatives from Rs 200 to Rs 285.
The minister said that retirement benefits of workers who retired between April 1, 2006, to March 31, 2011, were distributed to 16,100 workers.
Minister for Cooperation and Khadi Industry C N Balakrishnan said that khadi would get support price worth Rs 20 crore.