Press Release

With the objective of channelising NRK resources into productive economic and entrepreneurial activities, ROOTS - NRK Development Initiative, the field agency under the Department of NORKA, Government of Kerala, is organising an Exhibition-cum-Seminar during September 17 and 18, 2004 (Friday and Saturday), at Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Kochi. Named "Investment Opportunities for NRKs - Enterprise Avenues Showcasing-2004" the event is part of its endeavour to initiate a dedicated investment drive for NRKs by co-ordinating different departments/agencies, both Government and private. With specific focus on small to medium scale investments, the meet would showcase investment avenues in six sectors such as Food Processing & Animal Husbandry, Horticulture, Ayurveda & Herbal, IT & ITES, Hospitality & Tourism, Entertainment and will showcase project proposals suited for NRK investment. The event is being organised with the support and assistance of ICICI Kinfra Limited (Ikin).

The meet would be conducted under a "grand alliance" of a number of member agencies and such alliance will also form the backbone of post-meet operations. The member agencies shall be from various segments such as Government, Research & Development, Entrepreneurship Development, Funding Agencies and those offering land. Participating agencies would showcase their products tailor made for NRK involvement in terms of land available, R&D practices that could be adopted, special schemes for NRKs, funding packages for startups, specific projects, etc. Some of the prominent member agencies are Industries Department (KSIDC, KINFRA, DIC), Department of Agriculture, Department of Tourism (KTDC,TRKL, KHL), Department of Local Self Government, KINFRA Film and Video Park, C-Dit, Small Industries Development Bank of India, State Bank of Travancore, other leading Banks and Entrepreneurship Development Institutions like IT Mission, Kudumbasree etc.

The event is structured in the form of an Investment exhibition, which would open a platform for participating agencies to showcase their core competencies. This would also throw an avenue to facilitate one to one interaction between prospective NRK investors and participating agencies. ROOTS would act as front-end agency in NRK investor identification and would co-ordinate with participating agencies for implementing the projects. It would also channelise the queries and project ideas of the NRK investors and monitor the relationship between the identified NRK investor and the different agencies in the course of project implementation.

The NRKs attending the meet could obtain pertinent information and assistance for his investment proposals within the identified sectors. In the light of NRK proposals received in the meet, ROOTS will help them by co-ordinating various government departments so as to make their project proposal executable. The Government is prompted to initiate such endeavours in view of the possibility of imminent return of NRKs due to the increasing localization in more & more Middle-East Countries and the keenness shown by a large number of NRKs to start some ventures, back home, as a means of employment and livelihood.

A special cell in ROOTS drawing expertise from various sectors/organisations is envisaged for carrying out the post meet follow up as well, which is the most crucial part for the successful accomplishment of the objectives of the meet. Handholding would be provided for the potential investors so that their proposed projects can be realized. The cell shall review progress on specific queries that generate out of the meet in the beginning. In later stages it shall take a more general role acting as a single window system for providing handholding and assistance for NRK initiatives.

ROOTS is trying to reach across to as many NRK associations and individuals as possible all over the world, within India and abroad, and those presently available in the State. Malayalee Associations and NRKs who are keen to participate in the event are welcome and may contact in the following address: -

SEPTEMBER 17-18 2004 . RAJIV GANDHI INDOOR STADIUM . KOCHI

ROOTS-NRK Development Initiative
Top Floor, Centre Plaza,Vazhuthacaud, Thiruvananthapuram-14
Phone: 98952 34063, 0471 2555573 (ICICI-Kinfra)
Fax: 0471 2445483 (ICICI-Kinfra)
E-mail: nrkroots@vsnl.net
visit us at www.nonresidentkeralite.com


Animal Husbandry & Food Processing	Horticulture	Ayuverda & Herbal	IT Enabled Services	Tourism & Hospitality	Entertainment