Shaping Kerala’s Investment Future

S. Harikishore IAS
MD, KSIDC

 

The Invest Kerala Global Summit (IKGS) 2025 marked a defining chapter in Kerala’s journey to become India’s premier investment hub. With a clear vision of economic transformation through sustainability and innovation, the summit brought together global investors, policymakers and business leaders to explore Kerala’s vast potential across emerging and traditional sectors. Organised by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) and the Department of Industries and Commerce, it was a confluence of ideas, intent and investment.

A Global Platform with a Strong Local Vision

Under the theme ‘Shaping Kerala’s Investment Future’, IKGS 2025 was not just an event-it was a strategic initiative aimed at unlocking long-term growth. With 3,359 participants from 26 countries, including 144 global delegates, the summit cemented Kerala’s growing status on the global investment map.The focus areas-IT/ITES, manufacturing, tourism, logistics, and renewable energy-highlighted the state’s intent to foster sectoral excellence through 28 parallel sessions and 17 high-level committees. Kerala’s evolving business climate, with its emphasis on digital transformation and sustainable development, was showcased through engaging sessions and strategic networking. The summit served as a critical space for dialogue and policy framing, further amplifying investor confidence.

Strengthening Investor Relations & Reinvestment Strategy

A central pillar of IKGS 2025 was to reinforce existing investor relationships while actively pursuing reinvestment opportunities. This was operationalised through an extensive project mapping initiative, which identified 223 reinvestment opportunities valued at over ₹14,000 crore, involving the state’s District Industries Centres (DICs). Over 2,000 investors participated, leading to 500 expressions of interest (EoIs). Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KINFRA) also undertook an ambitious review of 140 industrial parks, evaluating their potential for reinvestment and expansion. Meetings with the Chief Minister and the Minister for Industries offered investors direct engagement with the government’s top leadership. A series of roadshows, sectoral summits, and promotional events helped reinforce Kerala’s investment proposition.

48 Pre-Summit Events: Building Momentum

The run-up to IKGS 2025 was as vibrant as the summit itself, with 48 pre-summit events held since July 2024. These spanned across India and abroad, designed to spark investor interest and demonstrate Kerala’s readiness for large-scale investment. Highlights included:

• Investment Promotion Programmes such as the Vizhinjam and Malabar Conclaves, and Startup and Automotive Technology Summits.

• Sectoral Engagements, including 11 focused meetings in cutting-edge areas like AI, robotics, biotechnology, and logistics, through events like International Gen AI Conclave and Bio Connect 2.0.

• Investment Roadshows across major cities-UAE, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi.

• High-Level Business Meetings like the Ambassadors’ Meet and focused investor roundtables.

• Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) initiatives such as “Kerala Leads the Way”, highlighting reforms for seamless business operations.

• International Engagements at platforms including the World Economic Forum and GITEX Global,reinforcing Kerala’s international presence.

Strategic Campaigns: Rebranding Kerala for Investment

To support the summit’s global outreach, five major campaigns were launched to reposition Kerala as an investment magnet: 1. ‘Unbox Kerala’-Unveiled the state’s wide-ranging opportunities, emphasising business-friendly policies, infrastructure, and human capital. It gained visibility through leading publications 2. ‘Changing the Nature of Business’ – Highlighted Kerala’s pivot to sustainability and technologydriven industries including green energy and digital transformation. 3. ‘Kerala is Inviting’ – Focused on Kerala’s proactive governance and Ease of Doing Business, enriched by compelling investor testimonials.

Inaugural Session: A Powerful Statement

The summit was officially inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who spotlighted the state’s strategic initiatives such as the Kochi-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor and the upcoming Hydrogen Valley Project. The inaugural session featured an impressive roster of speakers:

• P. Rajeeve, Minister for Industries, and Sarada Muraleedharan IAS, Chief Secretary, who spoke on reforms in MSMEs, medical devices, and industrial growth.

• Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Piyush Goyal, who endorsed Kerala’s growth in infrastructure, tourism, and manufacturing.

• Corporate leaders like Karan Adani, who announced an investment of ₹30,000 crore, mainly focused on Trivandrum International Airport’s expansion.

• M.A. Yousuf Ali revealed plans for investments in the Twin Tower Project and a food processing plant.

• Sanjiv Puri reaffirmed ITC’s intent to expand its operations in Kerala.

• H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri (UAE) and H.E. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro (Bahrain) highlighted new partnership avenues in healthcare, food processing, and pharmaceuticals.

In a rare bipartisan gesture, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan endorsed the state’s industrial vision and advocated for continued collaborative growth.

Sectoral Sessions: Mapping the Future

Mapping the Future The summit featured 32 sessions across various themes-from Aerospace to Sustainable Energy, Startups to Tourism. There were 22 parallel sessions and six dedicated country sessions with nations such as Australia, Germany, Vietnam, Norway, France, and Malaysia. Key features included:

• Plenary sessions like “Kerala-A Small World of Big Opportunities” and “Kerala 2047-Way Forward”.

• Roundtable discussions with top leadership, encouraging sector-specific dialogues and collaborative investments.

• Focus areas: medical excellence, marine sector development, automotive tech, emerging industries, and startup incubation.

Outcomes That Matter: From Vision to Value

The summit was not just about discussions-it delivered tangible results. IKGS 2025 secured Expressions of Interest (EoIs) totalling ₹1,65,928 crore from 418 companies. Notably, 20 leading IT companies proposed an additional ₹6,300 crore investment in Kerala, promising 60,000 new jobs-a significant boost for the youth and the state’s digital economy.

Global Recognition, Local Transformation

With CII as the official partner and 190 distinguished speakers including Amitabh Kant (G20 Sherpa), Bernd Szukay (Elac, Germany), and Abraham John Tharakan (Amalgam Group), IKGS 2025 became a benchmark for state-led investment summits. Kerala’s message was loud and clear: the state is open for business-with the right policies, people, and promise.