Kerala has become entrepreneurial hub, says Industries Minister

Industries Minister P. Rajeeve has said that Kerala has transformed into a hub for entrepreneurship and has achieved the top spot nationwide in industry-friendly rankings.

Inaugurating a district-level investor meet titled ‘Emerging Malappuram’ through online mode here on Thursday (September 11, 2025), Mr. Rajeeve said that Kerala had seen a significant surge in the establishment of micro, small and medium industries.

The District Industries Centre organised the investor meet in collaboration with industrialists who participated in the Invest Kerala Global Summit held in Kochi and are investing over ₹20 crore in Malappuram district.

“Around 25% of the projects proposed at the investor meet have already been completed. The government aims to complete 50% of the projects this year itself,” said the Minister.

He pointed out that Malappuram leads in entrepreneurship with 33,342 ventures and 76,521 job opportunities. The district’s businesses are thriving, driven by strong capital potential and a large expatriate population.

Mr. Rajeeve said that Malappuram has seen the completion of seven private industrial parks, with more in the pipeline. The Campus Industrial Park initiative, promoting entrepreneurship among students, has received a strong response. He added that the Mission 1000 project, aimed at nurturing small-scale industries, was also making significant strides in the district.

District Collector V.R. Vinod presented the overview, emphasising the importance of a pro-entrepreneur mindset among officials. Highlighting the district’s major investments, he urged leveraging them for economic growth, showcasing the district’s industry-friendly environment.

Malappuram witnessed investments worth ₹2,659.7 crore and the creation of 4,323 job opportunities through the investor meet. The meet featured proposals from 28 investors across sectors including industry, township development, healthcare, tourism, agro-food, construction, packaging, furniture, jewellery, and renewable energy.

P. Ubaidulla, MLA, presided over the function. Speakers included P. Nandakumar, MLA, Syed Abid Husain Thangal, MLA, K.P.A. Majeed, MLA, Kurukkoli Moideen, MLA, Sub-Collectors Dileep Kainikkara and Sakshi Mohan, Kerala State Small Industries Association district president Abdul Kareem, Malappuram Chamber of Commerce president George Joseph, and Almas Group chairman P. Ahamed Kabeer.