Kochi: Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd MD Karan Adani on Friday announced that the Adani Group will invest Rs 30,000 crores in Kerala in the next five years, including in the Vizhinjam port, in increasing the capacity of the Thiruvananthapuram Airport, and setting up a logistics hub, among other projects.
"Kerala is emerging as a model of development and progress, and we at the Adani Group are honoured to be part of this journey,” Karan Adani said in his address at the inaugural session of the two-day Invest Kerala Global Summit, which began here on Friday.
"Kerala’s global trade legacy dates back centuries. The ancient port of Muziris was a vital hub connecting Rome, Egypt, and China, making Kerala a centre for spice and gold trade. Today, Vizhinjam continues this rich tradition, placing India at the heart of global commerce. At the Adani Group, we are proud to contribute to this new era. Our journey with Vizhinjam port began in 2015, under the leadership of late Oommen Chandy and today under Pinarayi Vijayan’s leadership, it is becoming a reality," he added.
"Vizhinjam is strategically located along the world’s busiest shipping lanes, even before commissioning, made history by docking the largest container vessel to ever touch the Indian shores, with a capacity of 24,000 containers."
The investment will also focus on expanding the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, increasing its capacity from 4.5 million to 12 million passengers with an investment of Rs 5,500 crore. Additionally, a Logistics and E-Commerce hub will be set up in Kochi, and cement capacity will be increased in the region.
He highlighted the state's emergence as a model of development and progress and praised the state's leadership, saying, "The state has emerged as a leader in Ease of Doing Business and a global startup hub, a testament to Pinarayi Vijayan's administration's vision.
Karan Adani also added that a developed India requires strong regional economies, and Kerala is a prime example of how strategic investments can fuel progress.
(Inputs from IANS)