Export Excellence, Promotion awards distributed

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The export excellence and export promotion awards to leading exporters, who have achieved maximum exports through Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode air cargo complexes, instituted by Kerala State Industrial Enterprises Ltd (KSIE), were distributed here on Thursday.Industry Minister P K Kunhalikutty distributed the awards and said that the government was in the process of improving the infrastructure for the growth of industries in the state. Several projects are coming up which will benefit for increasing exports from Kerala, he said.Ports and Airport Minister K Babu, who presided over the function, said that Airports Authority of India had accepted in principle the proposal for starting courier cargo service. Discussions are on with KSIE to finalise it, he said.Development activities to the tune of Rs 500 crore will be carried out at Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL). The land for expansion of Thiruvananthapuram Airport will be acquired after taking the local people into confidence.Febi Varghese, managing director, KSIE, who presented the report, said that this is for the first time that such an award had been instituted by the KSIE. Last year, the exports through Thiruvananthapuram Air Cargo Complex was 27,389 metric tonnes and through Kozhikode it was 13,694 metric tonnes.TO Sooraj, chairman, KSIE, Chandra Mouli, director, Thiruvananthapuram Airport, E M Najeeb, president, Chamber of Commerce, Thiruvananthapuram, Dil Koshy, secretary, Exporters’ Association, Leelamma Issac, ward councillor, and K Radhakrishnan Nair, general manager (cargo), KSIE, spoke.P Radhakrishnan Nair, managing partner, Mayi Industries Ltd, and K Abdul Rubb, managing partner, Daliya Exporters, received the Export excellence awards 2011 for outstanding export performance. P E Asharaf Ali, managing director, Pomana Exports, V I Salim, general manager, Fair Exports, Robinson, proprietor, Robin Exporters, K Raveendranath, partner, Krishna Traders, S Kanakambaran Nair, proprietor, Kanakasree Exporters, Abraham Thomas, managing partner, Panachamoottil Exporters, K B Rafeek, proprietor, K B Exports and Imports, and P K Salih, managing partner, Original Foods, received the Export promotion awards for commendable export performance of 1,000 tonnes and above.