Kerala

I am humbled and highly privileged to take up the mantle as the Chairman of IACC-Kerala. I am greatly indebted to the Committee for reposing their faith in me to run this great Institution. At this instance, I recollect the yeoman services rendered by my predecessors to IACC.

Kerala with a population of 3.5 crores, that is about 2.76% of India’s population in 1.2% of the total area of India has always been a forerunner in the export business in India. Its foreign trade even before the time of the Roman Empire is legendary.

The Jews had trade relations with Kerala even before the time of King Solomon. The first Jewish Synagogue in India is in Kerala. St. Thomas, the Apostle of Christ landed in Kodungallur in Kerala in 52 AD and established the first Chrystian Church in India there. The Muslims came to Kerala in 629 AD and established the first Mosque in India near Trichur, Kerala. Vaso da Gama from Portugal landed in Calicut in Kerala in 1498 AD. The Dutch followed and built their first Palace outside of their native place at Cochin. Following the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814, the Dutch handed over their property in Kerala to the British. The land of the great Adi Sankara whole heartedly welcomed these cultures. All these made Kerala well known to the outside world from time immemorial.

The traditional trade in spices opened new avenues for handmade products made of coir and cotton. To this was added cash crops like cashew, rubber, Coffee, tea etc and later marine products. However, all these traditional industries have seen a downward trend mainly due to shortage of manual labour and the resultant high cost.

Currently oleoresin export has replaced spices and value-added marine products. Software exports have been a recent addition to this. Medical tourism is developing in Kerala (especially Ayurveda) in addition to being one of the largest exporters of medical components. Tourism has been a recent entrant with the slogan “God’s Own Country” resulting in Kerala having the highest number of 5 Star hotels in the country. The high level of literacy in Kerala has resulted in export of Human Resources which have seen a quantum jump recently.

All these are reflected in the membership composition of IACC in Kerala in the recent past. We are re-positioning ourselves to cater to the new business trends and have made substantial progress in this.

IACC has been able to contribute substantially to this success story with its eminent members contributing to it. I thank all the members for this. Going forward, I am sure we and our members will be a part of the future of this country and its development with its motto “Viksit Bharath”

I thank you all for your continued support, and I look forward to interacting with each one of you in the coming weeks.

CA Joseph Thomas
Chairman IACC-Kerala.