The wholly owned subsidiary, Allianz Cornhill Information Services Pvt. Ltd., will focus on software development and maintenance for Mainframe, Oracle and Web areas. They are "wired" to the UK through their state-of-the art video and audio hotline network in the Chandragiri Building in Technopark. The firm plans to use the team in Trivandrum as an extension of the development team in the UK, effectively helping the company grow its systems development capacity and improve its competitiveness globally.

Under the Cluster Development Programme, Aluva Plastic Consortium Private Limited planned for establishing a Common Facility Service Centre. The Foundation stone laid for the Common Facility Service Centre by Sri P.H. Kurian, IAS, Director of Industries & Commerce, on 25.6.2004.

After the foundation stone laying ceremony meeting conducted at IDA Trade Centre, Industial Development Area, 4th Mile, Aluva. Shri K.K. Ibrahim, Managing Director of Aluva Plastic Consoritum Pvt. Ltd., Shri N.K. Mohanan, Addl.Director of Industries and Commerce, Shri P.L. Narasimha Rao, Asst. Manager, SIDBI, Ernakulam, Shri B. Prasanna Kumar, General Manager, District Industries Centre, Ernakulam, Shri V.C. George, LDM, Shri V.K. Joseph, President, KSSIA, Shri P.K. Mustafa, President, Aluva Development Area Industries Association, Shri C.K. Majeed, Director, Perumbavoor Plywood Consortium, Shri K.M. Johnson, Manager, District Industries Centre and other dignitories were present.

Entrepreneurship Development Training Programme for Final Year M.B.A. Students of John Mathai Centre under University of Calicut, Thrissur organised by Department of Industries & Commerce and ED Club of JMC, Aranattukara, Thrissur. Shri N.K. Mohanan, Addl. Director, Directorate of Industries and Commerce delivered keynote address highlighting the importance and need of developing entreprenureship in youth.

The ED Club JMC, took shape in 2002- with the support of DIC, Ayyanthole, Thrissur, under the guidance of Sri V.M. Xaviour, Coordinator MBA evening programme. However focussed the activities began in April 2004 with the conception, planning and development of a two week workshop on entrepreneurship development. It was held for the final year MBA students (2003 batch) at Hotel Lucia International from 21.04.2004 to 25.05.2004.

The emphasis on the small scale sector by the department of Industries - was perhaps the key instigating factor in the conception of such a workshop. Focus was on policy initiative to promote and stimulate support and sustain the SSI. The role of students as future entrepreneurs and as monitors / coordinators to streamline the efforts of the government was perhaps the prime focus.

* To analyse technological opportunities, customers and market changes with a view to venture new ideas.

* To built purposeful and effective knowledge based systems for analysis and hardwork, and turn this knowledge into future opportunities.

* To continuously expand ourselves by learning new ways of doing, thus continuously expand the capacity to create future.

* To track the performance of successful entrepreneurs and gain insight from them.

* Keep a watch on the ever dynamic environment and the changing technology.

General Manager, District Industries Centre, Kozhikode in his letter cited 1st above, sought clarification whether, units engaged in DTP work and registered as SSI earlier and categorized under SSSBE at present are eligible for Subsidy.

This issue was placed in the State Level Committee on State Investment Subsidy held on 3.12.2003. The Committee observed that as per GOI Lr. No. 2(3)/91-SSI-Board of the Office of the Development Commissioner (SSI) dated 3.1.92 and recognised Data processing and Printing Press as industrial activity registrable as SSI. Since then, all Governmental assistances given to SSI units viz, SIS, MML etc. were extended to DTP units. Subsequently, as per Lr. No. 5(1)/2001-SSI Bd & Pol. dated 10.9.01 of the Office of DC (SSI), DTP was classified as SSSBE activity prospectively.

Government of Kerala, as per G.O. (MS) No. 149/93/ID dated 26.11.93 had included SSSBE units under negative list, which are thereafter not eligible for any financial assistance from Government. Since the GOI communication dated 10.9.01 recognising DTP as SSSBE was issued on 10.9.01 and which does not mention any retrospective effect to the notification, all DTP units registered provisionally prior to 10.9.01 were extended SIS as per the norms of SIS Manual.

Now, the Accountant General in his Audit Inspection has objected that the sanction of SIS to DTP units after 10.9.01 is irregular. The State Level Committee discussed the case and opined that if an industrial unit registers with DTP activity before 10.9.01, it would be appropriate to extend all Government assistance to them. But, it will not be enough if only a provisional registration is taken before 10.9.2001 without any effective steps for substantial investment. The Committee decided to sanction subsidy to all DTP units subject to the following conditions :-

a) The unit is provisionally registered before 10.9.2001 and

b) The unit has acquired or has been allotted land for setting up the unit and has applied for financial assistance before 10.9.2001;

or

c) In case of self financed units, acquired the necessary Plant & Machinery / equipments or has placed firm orders for the same before 10.9.2001 which to be evidenced by advance payments through cheques or Demand Draft, credited to the account of the supplier prior to 10.9.2001.

All recommending authorities i.e. GM, DICs; KFC and KSIDC are hereby directed to proceed with the above decision of the SLC.