Kerala Trade Centre to be completed this year

Construction of the new Kerala Trade Centre being set up by the KCCI at an investment of Rs 100 crore will be completed this year, chairman designate of the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) K N Marzook said.
"This building will bring all agencies, stakeholders and businessmen under a single roof. All transactions which a foreign businessman needs can be carried out on the premises with minimum hassles," Marzook said.
The 14-floor building is being set up on an area of 1.25 lakh sq ft on Marine Drive in Kochi on the lines of World Trade Centres around the world. The centre will comprise an industrial research and development centre, trade information and resource centre, business and exhibition centres, shopping arcades, an international convention centre and a quality testing laboratory. The centre will provide advanced communication facilities to businessmen who are keen to invest in Kerala. Visitors to the centre can have a taste of the offerings at a number of multi-cuisine food courts.

Three new check-post help centres run by KCCI will be opened at Amaravila near Thiruvananthapuram, Vazhikkadavu in Nilambur and Muthanga in Wayanad next month, said Marzook. He said that KCCI was talking to the government to set up help centres at more interstate border check-posts in the state to speed up clearance of commercial goods and detained consignments through production of valid documents.
Under an MoU which KCCI has signed with DP World of Dubai, goods from Dubai were now routed through the Walayar check-post. More dealers are now availing the services of KCCI's Walayar help centre. Besides DP World, companies like ITC and Fedex are also utilizing KCCI's help centre services.

Kerala State Housing Board wants to play mosquito killer

In a bid to help the city tackle mosquito menace, the Kerala State Housing Board (KSHB) has submitted a proposal to Kochi Corporation to carry out aerial spraying. The proposal entails spraying insecticides and larvicide in the city's marshlands and adjoining panchayats.
Sheena Nancy, KSHB executive engineer, said the swamps in Vypeen, Vallarpadam and Fort Kochi were the city's major mosquito breeding grounds.
Hence, merely fogging and spraying city drains and canals will not be enough to contain the menace. "It is in this context that the board submitted the proposal before the corporation. Spraying of insecticides and larvicide has to be done periodically. A committee consisting of district medical officer and district collector should decide on the chemical to be used for spraying," said a senior official.

"We have received the proposal. We will announce our decision after the Piravom bypoll," said T K Ashraf, chairman, health standing committee. He, however, added that helicopters would be used for aerial fogging.
Earlier, corporation held discussions with the Plantation Corporation of India regarding technical aspects as well as procedures to be followed while carrying out such a programme.
The local body had also decided to seek the assistance of the Vector Control Research Centre (VCRC) in deciding on the chemicals to be used for aerial spraying. Dubai Ports World (DP World) and Petronet LNG have already agreed to provide financial assistance for the project.
"Despite preparations, we couldn't go ahead with the project. Though a meeting was to be held with the panchayat presidents of Vypeen and Puthuvypu along with officials representing DP World and Petronet LNG on February 22, it had to be called off as the code of conduct (poll) came into force," added Asharaf.
In a bid to save the city from mosquito menace, the Kerala State Housing Board has submitted a proposal before Kochi Corporation to carry out aerial spraying. The housing board has proposed to spray insecticides and larvicide in marshlands in the city and in adjoining panchayats.
Speaking on the proposed project, executive engineer, Sheena Nancy said that the process of fogging and spraying in drains and canals will not solve the issue of mosquito menace. The swamps in Vypeen, Vallarpadam and Fort Kochi are the major breeding grounds and it is almost impossible to enter these regions physically and destroy mosquito larva.
"In this context the board has submitted a proposal before the Corporation. Periodical spraying of insecticides and larvicide have to be done. A committee consisting of the district medical officer and district collector should decide on the chemical that has to be used for spraying," said a senior official.
The Corporation also confirmed the proposal submitted by the housing board. "Though we received the proposal, we will announce our decision after the Piravom bypolls," said health standing committee, chairman, T K Asharaf. He said that helicopters would be used for carrying out aerial fogging. The Dubai Ports World (DP World) and Petronet LNG had agreed to provide financial assistance for the project.
Earlier the Kochi Corporation had held discussions with the Plantation Corporation of India regarding technical aspects and the procedures to be followed while carrying out such a programme. The local body also took a decision to seek assistance of Vector control research centre (VCRC) in deciding the chemical that would be used for aerial spraying. It was also decided to hire helicopters for the purpose.
"Despite the preparations we couldn't go ahead with the project. Though it was scheduled to hold a meeting on February 22 with the panchayat presidents from Vypeen and Puthuvypu along with officials representing DP World and Petronet LNG it had to be called off as the code of conduct was put into force as part of the bypolls," added Asharaf.

KCCI supports beautiful Kochi

The Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) authorities said that they are ready to take over the renovation and maintenance works of the E M S Memorial Town Hall. Announcing KCCI’s support for the city’s development, KCCI chairman K N Marsook said that a master plan catering to the needs of the coming years, is essential for the development.
“KCCI has always taken initiatives for the development of infrastructure and beautification of the city. KCCI is committed to facilitate the development of Kochi into a modern urban agglomeration at par with any other major city in the world,” he said.

“If the Corporation is ready to provide land, KCCI is ready to set up and operate a permanent exhibition venue in the city. We are also ready to construct an open air theatre near Goshree Bridge, if adequate land is provided to us. Another project that has captured the interest of KCCI is the beautification and maintenance of Subhash Chandra Bose Park,” he said.
Marsook also said that efforts were on to realise the projects presented at ‘Focus Kerala,’ an investors’ meet organised by the KCCI. “The Chamber will provide whole-hearted support to ‘Emerging Kerala,’ the investors’ meet organised by the State government,” he said. Around 200 panchayat presidents and foreign delegates took part in ‘Focus Kerala.’