The Government is launching a major drive for promotion of exports from Kerala, the Industries Minister, P. K. Kunhalikutty, said here on Monday.

The Minister told mediapersons that the Government was expecting an assistance of Rs. 100 crores from the Centre for setting up various infrastructure and other facilities for exports. An amount of Rs. 16.5 crores had already been released for works to be undertaken this year.

Mr. Kunhalikutty recalled that the new exim policy had stressed the importance of participation of State Governments in export promotion efforts. Accordingly, the Government was taking a number of steps realising the importance of exports in a globalised economy. Through these measures, the Government expected to increase the value of annual exports from Kerala to Rs. 10,000 crores in two years.

In Kollam, the Government proposed to upgrade the laboratory for testing of cashew and other food products at a cost of Rs. 6 crores. Rs. 1 crore had been allocated under the Central-assisted scheme for this. Rs. 10 lakhs has been earmarked for setting up a modern weighbridge at Cochin port.

A modern laboratory for testing marine products would be set up in Kochi at a cost of Rs. 350 lakhs. This would be established under the supervision of the Sea Food Exporters Association of India with guidance from European Union and United States Food and Drugs Administration.

The Minister said that Rs. 6.10 crores had been earmarked for a major project of the Marine Export Promotion Development Agency (MPEDA) costing Rs. 14.20 crores. The project proposes establishment of about 30 pre-processing centres, upgradation of the MPEDA laboratory in Kochi and development of fishing harbours in Kochi and Munambam.

Besides, Rs. 1.95 crores had been sanctioned to the State Industrial Enterprises for development of export bay at the Air Cargo Complex in Thiruvananthapuram airport. Rs. 3.62 crores would be spent for water supply schemes of the Kinfra Techno industrial park at Kakkancheri in Malappuram district. The Government also had plans to set up an Indian Institute of Export Management at Kalamassery.

Mr. Kunhalikutty said the special export promotion zone coming up on the land given by the Kochi Port Trust would bring about major advances on the export front. A blue print was being prepared for increasing export of food products from Kerala. A masterplan for industrial development of the State would be presented at the Global Investors Meet in Kochi on January 18.