VD Satheesan on why Keralam economy needs Manmohan Singh-like reforms

Keralam Chief Minister VD Satheesan drew a comparison with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's economic reforms of 1991, saying the state needs to move away from conventional practices and undertake a new round of reforms, including greater private-sector participation.

Speaking at the India Today Roundtable Keralam, Satheesan was asked whether he saw himself as Keralam’s equivalent of Manmohan Singh at the time of the 1991 economic reforms, and whether his government was preparing for a fundamental shift in the state’s development model through public-private partnerships.

"Yes. Our Planning Board vice chairman, the former Cabinet Secretary, in the first Planning Board meeting, told me that your position is the 1991 Dr Manmohan Singh's position," Satheesan said, referring to his government's stated intention to change Keralam's approach to development and investment.

"You have to change all these things. You have to deviate from the conventional practices, and you are to take new reforms and many things in Keralam. I agree with that," he added.

Calling reform a responsibility, Satheesan said the state was late in making such a shift but argued that it was "not too late" and that the present was the right time to act.

"I think that this is late, but it is not too late. This is the right time. Now we are thinking that if we are failing, Keralam will be in trouble in the future."

Satheesan's comments came as he laid out a broader vision for Keralam that seeks to combine public spending, infrastructure development, private investment and administrative reforms.

He said the government's approach had been shaped by an assessment of both Keralam's limitations and its economic advantages.

"We analysed the disadvantages and advantages of Keralam," Satheesan said, pointing to restrictions on land use arising from the Western Ghats, forest laws, paddy-land regulations and Coastal Regulation Zone rules.

"Most of our lands are regulated and density of population is very high. To start some industries is very difficult," he said.

At the same time, Satheesan said Keralam had significant geographical and infrastructure advantages that could be used to attract investment.

"We have 600 kilometre coastal line, we have two international seaports, one container terminal, 18 mini ports," he said, adding that the government's plan was to integrate these assets and develop Keralam as a major port-based economic hub.

"We declared that we will integrate all these ports and we will make the entire Keralam into a port city. That is our dream project," he added.

Ports are not the only infrastructure sector through which Satheesan wants to drive growth. He said the government also plans to develop Keralam as an aviation hub.

"We have four international airports," he said, adding that the government was receiving investment interest and working on projects linked to the state's aviation infrastructure.

Satheesan said the government was also looking to attract investment in newer technology sectors, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, global capability centres and data centres.

He pointed to the existing Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram, Infopark in Kochi and Cyberpark in Kozhikode, saying the government wanted to expand these facilities.

When asked specifically about private investment and the role of the Adani group in Keralam's port and airport infrastructure, Satheesan said the state was open to investors but would insist on due process and protection of the state's interests.

"Any investor, the state is open to welcome," he said. However, he added that there would have to be transparent procedures, including expressions of interest and mechanisms to select investors.

"There should be a transparent procedure to select the right person who is investing there, but we are giving more opportunities," Satheesan said.

He said the Industries Department had directed state agencies to acquire maximum land in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode to facilitate investments. The government had also begun work on an asset-mapping registry of land across Keralam.- EndsPublished By: Ajmal Published On: Sep 17, 2026 11:28 IST