Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan laid out a roadmap for expanding the State’s startup ecosystem in a public interaction held on April 30 at Kottayam.
At gathering of professionals, community leaders, and officials as part of the fourth anniversary of his government, Vijayan said the roadmap aimed to raise the number of registered startups to 15,000 in a year.
According to the Chief Minister, Kerala had just 640 startups back in 2016. That figure has now jumped to around 6,300, with cumulative investments touching ₹5,800 crore. If the State manages to hit the 15,000 mark, over one lakh new jobs could potentially be created in the coming years.
This push, the government claims, is part of its broader aim to establish Kerala as a recognised hub for start-up activity—not just nationally, but on the global map too.
Vijayan also spoke about the rapid expansion of the Information Technology sector. In 2016, Kerala had 640 IT firms. That number now stands at 1,106. Employment in the sector has nearly doubled from 78,068 to 1.48 lakh. IT exports, meanwhile, have surged from ₹34,123 crore to ₹90,000 crore.
While these numbers appear optimistic, how they compare with national averages or neighbouring States wasn’t discussed in detail.
On the industrial front, Kerala’s growth rate has reportedly moved from 12% in 2016 to 17% at present. The Chief Minister attributed this to policy-level changes meant to simplify doing business in the State, though no specific reforms were mentioned during the speech.
Kerala’s reputation as a knowledge-driven economy also featured in the discussion. The CM noted that three out of the top 12 universities in India, as per the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), are based in Kerala.
It’s unclear which specific universities were referenced, but the point was made to highlight Kerala’s edge in higher education and research.
The LIFE Mission housing scheme, which has often been highlighted by the government as a social welfare success, was also mentioned. As per the update, 4.5 lakh homes have been completed so far, with another 50,000 almost ready.
Vijayan also announced a new goal—declaring Kerala “extreme poverty-free” by November 1. He claimed that the State has managed to reduce extreme poverty by 78%, though details on the measurement criteria or methodology weren’t disclosed.
In a more critical tone, the CM accused the Central government of blocking funds due to the State, even during times of crisis. Despite this, he claimed, Kerala’s own revenue collection has increased substantially—from 26% in 2016 to 70% currently, adding ₹47,000 crore in just three years.
This part of the speech seemed directed as much at political opponents as it was at the audience, underlining the State’s claimed financial resilience.
