Kerala has been included in the proposed industrial corridor. This was disclosed by Commerce Minister Anand Sharma in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday night.

He was addressing a joint press conference with Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy after the conference of Industries Ministers of Southern States.

Mr Sharma said, the industrial corridor will extend from Kochi to Palakkad upto Coimbatore. Considering the land scarcity in Kerala, the minimum norm of 5,000 hectares for industrial clusters will be relaxed.

The Commerce Minister said, import duty on rubber has been increased from 20 rupees per kilogram to 34 rupees per kilogram and notification in this regard will be issued soon.

He said a comprehensive insurance scheme will be implemented for Kerala’s Plantation sector under a tripartite agreement involving the Centre, State and the farmers.

46.37 acres of land at Kochi Smart City will get Special Economic Zone (SEZ). At present, 59 acres of land at Kochi Smart City enjoy SEZ status.