Tourism News
Invest Kerala Global Summit 2025: Boosting Innovation and Investment in Kerala
The Invest Kerala Global Summit 2025, held on February 21 & 22 at the Lulu International Convention Centre, Bolgatty, Kochi, emerged as a landmark event in Kerala’s push towards becoming a leading global investment hub. Organised by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC), the summit was aimed to attract domestic and international investments.
The event saw the participation of 3,000 delegates, including global industry leaders, policymakers and entrepreneurs from 26 countries, fostering discussions on investment opportunities and economic collaborations. Country-focused sessions highlighted potential investments from Germany, Vietnam, Norway, UAE, France and Malaysia, showcasing Kerala’s strengths in various industries.
The highlight of the summit was the submission of 374 Expressions of Interest (EoIs) amounting to Rs.1.53 lakh crore, signaling strong investor confidence in Kerala’s growth prospects. The IT sector alone secured investment proposals worth Rs.8,500 crore, promising 60,000 new job opportunities. Additionally, 66 companies expressed interest in investments exceeding Rs.500 crore.
In his address at the inaugural session, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan emphasised Kerala’s efforts in simplifying investment procedures to eliminate bureaucratic delays. He cited the Kerala Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises Facilitation Act, 2019, which allows MSMEs to begin operations by obtaining an acknowledgment certificate via the K-SWIFT portal, with licenses required within three years and six months.
To expedite investment processes, the government announced the formation of a special committee to revise guidelines on the use of plantation land, a ministerial panel to grant land rule exemptions and a fast-track mechanism to implement investment commitments. A dedicated investor toll-free number and email ID will also be introduced to facilitate seamless investor communication.
The Chief Minister highlighted the government’s commitment to developing transport infrastructure, with Kerala contributing 25% of land acquisition costs for National Highway 66 widening and advocating high-speed rail projects. He also noted Kerala’s remarkable progress in the startup ecosystem, with 6,200 startups established in the last eight years, generating Rs.5,800 crore in investments and 62,000 jobs. The state aims to reach 15,000 startups and create 1 lakh employment opportunities by 2026.
Future Investment Roadmap
The Kerala government announced that the Invest Kerala Global Summit will be held every three years, with the next edition of the UAE’s Investopia Summit scheduled to take place in Kerala in July 2026. The event also featured 30 special sessions and an exhibition of over 100 enterprises, highlighting Kerala’s industrial success stories, public sector enterprises and traditional handicrafts.
With significant investment commitments, streamlined regulatory frameworks and a robust startup ecosystem, Kerala is poised to become a premier investment and innovation hub in India.
