The Confederation of Indian Industry, Kerala, has hailed the state budget, saying it is “purposeful and meaningful” and a reflection of the government’s focus on enhancing the infrastructure and modernizing the agriculture sector.
“It is heartening to note that specific infrastructural projects have been identified and funds provided for it, like the Kochi Metro, Vizhinjam port, Monorail projects, Vallarpadom project, Kozhikode Cyber Park, and the industrial park in Bramhapuram. The move to set up hi-tech bio-parks and green house farming were a demonstration of the government's intent to transform the agro sector," it said.
The overall impression was that the minister strived to make the budget an essentially populist one. The pitfall, however, with this approach, was that often there was not enough bang for the buck, especially the big ticket projects, it said.
However, the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman K.N. Marzook said that while the budget focused on growth, the funds allotted to various sector were not sufficient given the current financial resources available.
The budget is welcome and the “Emerging Kerala”' was an initiative in the right direction, said Cochin Chamber of Commerce president P.L. Prakash James.