SMALL AND MEDIUM
ENTERPRISES IN KERALA
General
Kerala bestows an investor-friendly environment with
well-structured policies and pioneering initiatives. It boasts of a world-class
infrastructure. Among the leading commercial and trading centers of India,
Kerala offers conducive environment for setting up any industry.
Prominent sectors in Kerala are information technology,
tourism, agro-based business including food processing, ready-made garments,
ayurvedic medicines, mining, marine products, light engineering, biotechnology
& rubber based industries.
The key sectors in Kerala according to their contribution to
the state
There are nearly 1,274 food
processing units in Kerala alone. The processed food units operate mainly in
the small-scale sector. Kerala is rich in coconut, spices, fruit juices,
vegetables, seafood and processed foods. The spices, pickles and marine products
are major food product exports from Kerala. The State could emerge as
plantation-based food products exporter through value addition. Its share in
the country’s total food products export is almost 20 per cent despite
possessing limited to land mass. Two thirds of Kerala’s total export income
comes from processed food. The net sales have grown approximately by 11 per
cent for the 9 months ended 31st December 2004. The food processing sector in
the State commands nearly Rs 5,000 crore in exports and has a potential to
become Rs 30,000-crore worth industry. The industry maintains high inventory
since it is dependent on a seasonal raw material.
The traditional industries
include handloom, coir, cashew and handicrafts. Handloom is a major industry
providing employment to about 2.5 lakh persons. The sector accounts for about
13 per cent of India's handloom exports. The coir industry provides direct
employment to 2.7 lakh workers and indirect employment to more than a lakh. Of
those directly employed, 84 per cent are women. This industry is second only to
agriculture as a source of employment and it accounts for 95 per cent of the
country's coir exports.
Among the traditional
industries, handicraft is one that has good potential in a globalised regime.
Performance
There are 2,24,524 registered SSI units in the state.
Cumulative Number of SSI Units granted Permanent Registration in Kerala is as
follows:
|
1995-96 |
1996-97 |
1997-98 |
1998-99 |
1999-2000 |
2000-01 |
|
133114 |
148275 |
166484 |
184166 |
202325 |
214019 |
The tiny, small, medium or large units in sectors like
Information Technology, Tourism, Agro-based business including including food
processing, Readymade garments, Ayurvedic medicines,Marine products, Light
engineering, Biotechnology & Rubber based industries have been identified
as the thrust sector industries.
The details of the Small Scale Industrial Units are as
follows:
|
Newly registered SSI units during
2003-04 |
5305 |
|
Total Investment in SSI Units
during 2003-04 |
Rs. 4031
crores |