Page 326 - economic review

CAPACITY BUILDING298

7.31 It is evident that the skill gap in Kerala is high. Adequate programmes and policy measures
are essential to match the industries’ demand. Employability of the population is an important factor
in the economic development of Kerala and the crisis of skill development has to be turned into an
opportunity to ensure the prosperity for the state.

Section 3
Project Structuring and Financing

Introduction

7.32 The 12th Plan Approach paper stated that the investment of Plan resources in the 12th Plan will
be so targeted as to act as catalyst for attracting more resources, be it private or external, including
funds from banking and financial institutions, so that the sum total of investment is far greater than
the amount of Government Plan investment.

Project Financing Cell

7.33 Government constituted a Project Financing Cell in the State Planning Board in 2012 with
the objective of examining the possibility of extra budgetary resources, including Public Private
Partnership for all projects of the State. PFC is also mandated to examine the technical as well as
financial feasibility of all projects above an out lay of ` 5 Cr.

7.34 Some of the important projects in which PFC has offered their remarks are the following: GCDA
Satellite City Project, Development of Marina at Thalassery, Vyttila Mobility hub- Multimodal traffic
terminal, Intermodal container manufacturing unit, Bulk cement handling unit, Azhikkal Port, Proposal
for JNNURM Scheme –Formation of a subsidiary Corporation, Vizhinjam International Sea Port Ltd,
SRIP-Road rehabilitation project, Kottakunnu Tourism project, Shopping mall at Manappattiparambil,
Kochi. Tunnel Marine Aquarium , RRTS- Suburban Rail project , Mono Rail Thiruvananthapuram
and Kozhikkode Light Metro projects Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhicode and Modern Fish Market
under PPP – Paippad Grama Panchayat, Kottayam .

Legal and Enabling Policy frame work

7.35 As per the decision of the full Board meeting of the State Planning Board, a draft Infrastructure
Development Bill was prepared by the Cell so as to create a legal frame work in the State to facilitate
and promote role of PPP in creation of new infrastructure assets as well as in management of
existing ones.

7.36 The Working Group on Public Private Participation for the 12th Five Year Plan constituted by the
State Planning Board highlighted the need Public Private Partnerships (PPP) policy. Accordingly PFC
drafted and forwarded to Government a draft PPP policy also for a declaration by the Government.

Management Courses on PPP

7.37 Project Financing Cell conducted various training programmes, seminars and sensitization
programmes on PPP for different departments. This included a three day Basic Management Course
on PPP with the faculty support of IIT-M Chennai and another 5 day Advanced Management Course
on PPP with the financial and faculty support of IDFC New Delhi .

Kerala State Planning Board