Coming: A global village in Kochi

KOCHI: Kerala is all set to develop a global village aimed at promoting tourism, travel and business. While inaugurating the Grand Kerala Shopping Festival on Thursday, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had announced the setting up of a global village in Kochi. Though the proposal is only in the initial stages, the government is determined to go ahead with the idea of a global village that would cater to the promotion of business and tourism.“The concept is to develop a centralised area where traders from the state and foreign countries can set up their business establishments,” Ernakulam District Collector Sheik Pareeth said. “The Chief Minister has only announced the setting up of the global village. We have to work further on the concept.The basic thing is that Kochi was chosen as the centre for setting up the global village,” he said. Pareeth said the area would be mainly for business transactions between the state and other countries. “The global village will involve import and export business,” he said. The global village will be designed as a centralised place where business transactions can take place. Several countries can set up their pavilions there. Tourism could also get a boost as more traders will come to the place. “When asked if any land has been earmarked for the project, Pareeth said the land was yet to be identified. “Talks are only in the initial stages,” Pareeth said and added that a system had to be developed and a final decision would be taken in the coming days.Global village ■ Though the proposal is in the initial stages, the government is determined to go ahead with the idea of the global village that would help promote business and tourism.■ The global village will be mainly for business transactions between the state and other countries.It will focus on import and export.■ The global village will be a centralised place where business transactions take place.Several countries can set up their pavilions there.■ Tourism could also get a boost as more traders will come there.■ The land for the project is yet to be identified