A webinar on ‘Dream Kerala’ project, an initiative of the southern Indian state's government, Friday discussed various openings and investment opportunities for returning as well as investors and entrepreneurs.
Organised by Kerala Business Forum (KBF) Qatar, the webinar was attended by leading Keralite businessmen in the country who explored the business offerings in their home state.
Opening the webinar, Indian ambassador Dr Deepak Mittal highlighted the importance of the Dream Kerala initiative and applauded the move especially in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic that has affected every aspect of life of the entire humanity.
“Covid-19, a healthcare crisis, has run into every aspect of life and affected the economy in a huge way. About 60,000 Indians have returned from Qatar alone with many of them looking for opportunities in their home states. In this context, a project such as ‘Dream Kerala’ is an excellent initiative which is innovative and a great move to accommodate the retuning Indians and provide them with opportunities. Such efforts need to be lauded and encouraged,” said Dr Mittal.
Dr Ellangovan, principal secretary, Department of Industries and Commerce, Kerala, delivered the keynote address at the webinar.
According to Ellangovan, the Dream Kerala project aims to rehabilitate returnee migrants by integrating them into the state’s economic sector. He also disclosed that a total of 41,356 residents from Qatar alone have returned to Kerala while over 400,000 Keralites have moved back to the state during the pandemic.
“The project provides opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship. We invite and plan to collect suggestions and ideas from everyone to be added as part of the project. From these suggestions and opinions, implementable projects and programmes will be formulated. We also want to create a skill repository of returnee migrants from Kerala for employment. Presently all these plans are expected to be formulated in 100 days,” he explained.
He also outlined several measures taken by the Kerala government to make entrepreneurship and investment smoother in the state. “An expert committee will be formed to provide advice and implementation of each business idea. The licensing procedure has been made easier and smoother so that individuals or groups can get the approvals faster. There will be an investment facilitation centre and a toll free number for investors to get all the information necessary. All approvals are expected to be completed in one-week time,” added, Ellangovan.
The keynote session was followed by a question and answer session where the questions were answered by Ellangovan as well as M G Rajajmanickam , managing director of Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation.
Angeline Premalatha, counsellor at the Indian embassy, was the guest of honour at the event while Azim Abbas, president, Indian Business and Professional Council offered his felicitations. K R Jayaraj, president KBF and other officials of the organisation co-ordinated the webinar.
Dream Kerala project was announced by Kerala government recently for rehabilitation of the Keralites returning from various countries and for the overall development of the State. The project aims, not only, the rehabilitation of the returnees but also for reviving the economy of the state using the skill and knowledge of the returnees.
Dr Ellangovan addressing the webinar
Opening the webinar, Indian ambassador Dr Deepak Mittal highlighted the importance of the Dream Kerala initiative and applauded the move especially in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic that has affected every aspect of life of the entire humanity.
“Covid-19, a healthcare crisis, has run into every aspect of life and affected the economy in a huge way. About 60,000 Indians have returned from Qatar alone with many of them looking for opportunities in their home states. In this context, a project such as ‘Dream Kerala’ is an excellent initiative which is innovative and a great move to accommodate the retuning Indians and provide them with opportunities. Such efforts need to be lauded and encouraged,” said Dr Mittal.
Dr Ellangovan, principal secretary, Department of Industries and Commerce, Kerala, delivered the keynote address at the webinar.
According to Ellangovan, the Dream Kerala project aims to rehabilitate returnee migrants by integrating them into the state’s economic sector. He also disclosed that a total of 41,356 residents from Qatar alone have returned to Kerala while over 400,000 Keralites have moved back to the state during the pandemic.
“The project provides opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship. We invite and plan to collect suggestions and ideas from everyone to be added as part of the project. From these suggestions and opinions, implementable projects and programmes will be formulated. We also want to create a skill repository of returnee migrants from Kerala for employment. Presently all these plans are expected to be formulated in 100 days,” he explained.
He also outlined several measures taken by the Kerala government to make entrepreneurship and investment smoother in the state. “An expert committee will be formed to provide advice and implementation of each business idea. The licensing procedure has been made easier and smoother so that individuals or groups can get the approvals faster. There will be an investment facilitation centre and a toll free number for investors to get all the information necessary. All approvals are expected to be completed in one-week time,” added, Ellangovan.
The keynote session was followed by a question and answer session where the questions were answered by Ellangovan as well as M G Rajajmanickam , managing director of Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation.
Angeline Premalatha, counsellor at the Indian embassy, was the guest of honour at the event while Azim Abbas, president, Indian Business and Professional Council offered his felicitations. K R Jayaraj, president KBF and other officials of the organisation co-ordinated the webinar.
Dream Kerala project was announced by Kerala government recently for rehabilitation of the Keralites returning from various countries and for the overall development of the State. The project aims, not only, the rehabilitation of the returnees but also for reviving the economy of the state using the skill and knowledge of the returnees.
