States » SouthPosted at: Oct 28 2026 10:02PM


Kerala Maritime Board amendment to attract investment, create jobs in port sector: CM

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 28 (UNI) Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Wednesday said the Kerala Maritime Board (Amendment) Bill, 2026, would facilitate port-based development, attract domestic and foreign investment and generate employment opportunities, particularly for coastal communities.
Replying to the discussion on the Bill in the State Assembly, he said the government proposed to develop the state's ports through innovative economic models, public-private partnerships and the effective utilisation of government land within port limits.
Clarifying the scope of the proposed land bank, Satheesan said it would comprise government land within port areas and would not bring the entire coastal region under the Maritime Board.
The proposed framework was intended to simplify procedures, facilitate investment and coordinate development activities through the statutory body, creating a more favourable environment for port-related projects, he said.
Highlighting the wider economic potential of the maritime sector, the Chief Minister said employment opportunities would extend well beyond port operations. With modern ports such as Vizhinjam increasingly adopting automation, the scope for direct employment within harbour premises could be limited, making port-linked industries and services crucial for job creation.
Maritime industries, logistics, container stations, bunkering, freight and cargo movement, transshipment, warehousing and supply-chain management offered considerable potential for generating employment, he said.
Improved port connectivity would also enable Kerala's agricultural produce and other commodities, including spices, to reach domestic and international markets more efficiently. Facilities for storage, logistics and value addition could strengthen the state's production and export ecosystem, Satheesan added.
Stating that the government alone could not undertake the development of all 18 ports in Kerala, he stressed the need for private and corporate investment to realise their full potential.
Successive governments had made efforts to attract investors to the state, and private participation remained essential for accelerating economic growth, he said.
Satheesan said preliminary discussions had already been held with investors from outside Kerala, foreign institutions and governments regarding port development projects. Geopolitical uncertainties in certain regions, particularly the Gulf, had also prompted some investors to explore opportunities in Kerala.
The government intended to position the maritime sector as an attractive investment destination, with flexible economic models tailored to individual projects, he added.
UNI DS
Tags: #Kerala Maritime Board amendment to attract investment# create jobs in port sector: CM
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