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Kerala pinning IT hopes on Tecom-backed SmartCity
The SmartCity project, which many hope will take Kerala to the “forefront of India’s IT sector”, on Saturday moved close to reality with the inauguration of a state-of-the-art sales pavilion and the launch of work on the main building complex.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who initiated the project seven years ago by signing a memorandum of understanding with Dubai Internet City, headed the two events at a function at Kakkanad.
Speaking on the occasion, Chandy said that Kerala did not consider the SmartCity as a mere industrial project but a strong message to the world that the state is ready to claim the top position in the country’s IT sector.
“With several advantages, Kerala should have topped the IT map of the country but we have been lagging behind most states for various reasons. SmartCity Kochi will help us to catch the missed bus,” Chandy said.
He said that the state government will fully cooperate with Dubai-based Tecom Investments, the promoter of the project, to complete the industry township in a time-bound manner. Chandy said that he had received an assurance from Tecom to complete the 350,000sqft IT building, forming part of the first phase within 18 months.
The chief minister announced the sanctioning of Rs250 million to complete the airport-seaport road passing through the project area and agreed to consider the construction of a link road to the city as part of infrastructure development.
Abdullatif Almulla, group CEO of Tecom Investments, expressed his commitment to move faster while speaking on the occasion. He termed SmartCity Kochi as a project for the next generation.
“The project will create a new ecosystem for the development of the region. It will bring prosperity to the people in the region and outside,” he said.
The function was also attended by Kerala finance minister K.M. Mani, Industry and IT minister P.K. Kunhalikutty, who is also the chairman of SmartCity Kochi, excise minister K. Babu, public works minister Ibrahim Kunju and a host of legislators. SmartCity Kochi was originally conceived as an IT township but was later converted as a self-sustained industry township for knowledge-based companies. To be developed by SmartCity and the Government of Kerala, SmartCity Kochi will be one of India’s largest business parks.
Based on the successful models of Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City and Dubai Knowledge Village, SmartCity Kochi will provide an infrastructure, environment and support systems to promote the growth of knowledge-based industry companies.
The project has an employment generation potential of over 90,000 jobs. Multiplier effects are expected to bring several other benefits to the state.
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