Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Oct 17: Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) briefed about their action plans for the next one year.

Addressing media here on Thursday October 17, KCCI president Isaac Vas said, "The Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry has always been very proactive when it comes to taking initiatives for the economic and social development in Dakshina Kannada. New challenges are looming in every aspect of Trade, commerce and industry.

“The plans of KCCI for the next one year will be developing KCCI as a recognized alternate dispute redressal center. Ensure that our gets a commercial court. Work towards development of infrastructure for information technology and connected industry in our district. Promoting native start-ups and industry, academia collaboration. Giving push to the cashew industry for high trajectory growth in the district and development of tourism.

“The Government of India is making an endeavour to implement various legislative measures having economic implications keeping in mind the ease of doing business. In view of the new policy of Government of India to encourage Alternative Dispute Resolution in respect of commercial disputes, the KCCI has taken the initiative to setup a full-fledged Alternative Dispute Resolution [ADR] centre in Mangaluru. This centre will be run by a team of professionals to ensure speedy and inexpensive dispute resolution mechanism within the purview of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 as amended from time to time.

“In Karnataka, there are three courts of district and sessions judges that have been designated as commercial courts for the entire state, two are in Bengaluru and one is in Ballari. The court with jurisdiction of D.K and Mangaluru is based in Bengaluru. Given the size of Karnataka, it is important that a commercial court with jurisdiction for DK and surroundings districts is established in Mangaluru not Bangalore. KCCI has already taken up the issue with Department of Law and will focus all our energies toward this. This would ensure a more equitable access to justice, while strengthening the ease of doing business, he added.

“KCCI will also work with the district administration to set up adequate leisure infrastructure in the city to support the growing needs of Human Resources in the IT field. KCCI is working on setting up a Native Start-up cell to motivate, hand hold and fund entrepreneurs from our District to solve problems facing our district and build them into gainful businesses and industries. A dedicated team is already formed to spearhead this initiative.

“Cashew entrepreneurship of the state has played a leadership for the entire country. Every process innovation and marketing initiatives have evolved in our region. The growth in the industry is held back due to a few bottlenecks that need to be cleared by the government which KCCI will be aggressively following up with the government.

“In the tourism sector we urge to form a district level single window clearance committee to clear all tourism related projects so that investors, stake holders get all permissions done at one point. Promote three annual events that have made a name in Mangaluru namely Indian Open of Surfing, International Kite Festival and River festival using the services of existing institutions.

“Declare Sasihithlu Beach as an exclusive beach for surfing. It is a matter of pride to us that the Surfing Federation of India is based in Dakshina Kannada. To ensure that this sport gets it due we are pursuing with the Government to declare Sasihithlu beach exclusively for surfing activity,” said Isaac Vas.

When asked about Kannur airport giving tough competition to Mangaluru airport, Isaac Vas said, “We have discussed with the representatives of the airlines. Passenger traffic has not come down and the gulf airlines are functioning as usual. There is tax rebate at Kannur airport, it is said. The timings for Kuwait is not so convenient for the passengers at MIA compared to Kannur airport.”

KCCI vice president Shashidhar Pai Maroor, KCCI secretaries Nissar Fakeer Mohammed and Diwakar Pai, and treasurer Ganesh Kamath were present.