Kerala Minister of Law, Industries and Coir P Rajeev said that public welfare and the state's green development will remain the government's top priority while attracting private investment and clarified that there were no restrictions on working with the Adani Group in future.
Talking to reporters, Rajeev said that the Vizhinjam Seaport near its capital Thiruvananthapuram that the Adani Group would go ahead with it as of now and will not backtrack on the deal because of proceeding against the Adani group in the US.
Expressing the government's objective of promoting green projects, the minister said there is no bar on investment from any private investor, including the Adani Group, but clarified that the Left government was firm about not allowing the privatisation of water and electricity distribution.
The government is committed to creating jobs and for that private investment would be encouraged as earlier, Rajeev said. However, no special sops would be offered at the cost of losing revenue, he said.
Praising the Adani Group's Vizhinjam port project, Rajeev reiterated his party's stand against having a group company operating in both domestic and international terminals of Thiruvananthapuram airport.
Outlining knowledge-based industries as the government's priority, the minister said the state was doing even better than the national average as far as worker protests were concerned, and its safety record for workers was also impressive.
Rajeev said the state government has been pushing for a digital revolution in the state and was keen to become the first fully digitally literate state.
Showcasing the state's literate and productive workforce, the Minister invited private investment claiming that the high wage levels in the state may appear to be a little unattractive but these come with the assurance of high productivity of workers.
In the last three years, even as the government maintains focus on high-tech and knowledge-based industries, Kerala has received an investment worth Rs 46,000 crore. Processed spices, robotics, and medical devices manufacturing have been the special areas of investment.
In more than two years, the state government has been able to generate seven lakh new jobs in small enterprises.
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