United for Kerala’s development, rival fronts echo its pro-business credentials at investment summit

Political fronts spoke in one voice for the State’s progress at the Invest Kerala Global Summit in Kochi

The rival political fronts in Kerala put up a united face for the State’s development at the Invest Kerala Global Summit on Friday as they voiced support for boosting industrial growth and ensuring a favourable investment climate.

The Opposition had contested the government’s investment claims a few days ahead of the much-hyped event. However, the differences were set aside as heavyweights in the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, including Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Nitin Gadkari; and Kerala’s Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan spoke in one voice for the State’s progress.

Representatives of the key fronts were also keen to use the occasion to highlight their past and present credentials in promoting investment and infrastructure. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan elaborated on the infra and expansion projects across sectors under the Left government while stating that the State had won the first rank in the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ index.

Mr. Satheesan, who had earlier questioned the government’s claims on having set up around three lakh MSMEs in three years, listed out the growth and infra push made by the Congress-led previous United Democratic Front governments in the past.

The Union Ministers were not left behind as they showered lavish praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the country’s progress towards becoming a high-income nation with $23-$35 trillion GDP by 2047. On a lighter note, the Union Minister Piyush Goel told the audience that lotus has not yet bloomed in Kerala, but very soon it will happen.

He also gave ammunition to the Opposition by responding to queries by media persons outside the venue about the government’s claim of having bagged the top rank in the ‘Ease of Doing Business’. He clarified that the Centre do not rank States as one, two three. We encourage the States to improve their processes and make it easier for people to invest, he said.

The Union Minister, who mentioned about the semi-high-speed rail project in his speech, later said that the Railways has sought certain clarifications like converting it into a broad gauge instead of a narrow gauge. They are working together to see the final contours and to see that there is consensus among the people of Kerala and the process is going on, he said.