THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Singapore has expressed eagerness to forge trade and technology partnerships with Kerala in a number of key projects, including Vizhinjam Port and the Kochi Metro Rail during the campaign of Emerging Kerala 2012. Singapore Consul-General in Chennai Ajit Singh held discussions with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Industries and IT Minister P K Kunhalikutty and other senior officials to advance on-going deliberations on trade and investment opportunities in infrastructure development, water technologies, waste management, logistics and knowledge sector. “We will be very pleased to welcome partnerships from Singapore as well as other nations that have demonstrated expertise in areas which the State Government has identified as thrust areas for development. This also signals rising investor interest in the state following the launch of the ‘Emerging Kerala’ branding campaign,” Kunhalikutty said after the meeting. Showcasing the state to global investors and inviting them to become partners in inclusive, rapid and sustainable economic development is one of the prime objectives of the Emerging Kerala 2012 Global Connect scheduled in Kochi from September 12 to 14. Additional Chief Secretary (Industries & Commerce) V Somasundaran, Planning Board Vice-Chairman K M Chandrasekhar and KSIDC managing director Alkesh Sharma were present during the talks with the Consul-General. “Singapore is also keen on opportunities in logistics, for instance, at the International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) in Kochi. From Kerala’s point of view, an association with a shipping powerhouse like Singapore would be a massive advantage,” Somasundaran said.
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