Kerala Industries and Technology — KINFRA, Technopark, Traditional Industries

Kerala’s industrial landscape combines modern IT parks with traditional industries. Kerala PSC regularly tests knowledge of industrial infrastructure, IT parks, and traditional sectors. Expect 2-3 questions per paper.

Kerala’s Industrial Profile — Overview

Aspect	Details
Dominant sectors	IT/ITES, tourism, coir, cashew, handloom, rubber, spices, seafood processing
Industrial policy	Kerala Industrial and Commercial Policy (latest revision 2023)
Industrial challenges	Limited heavy industry, militant trade unionism (historically), small land parcels
GSDP from industry	About 25-28% of Gross State Domestic Product
Key advantage	High literacy, English proficiency, Gulf connections, quality workforce

IT and Technology Infrastructure

Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram

Feature	Details
Established	1990
Location	Thiruvananthapuram
Status	First technology park in India
Area	790+ acres (one of the largest IT parks in Asia)
Campuses	Main campus, Phase I, II, III; Technocity (Phase IV)
Major companies	Infosys, TCS, UST, IBS Software, Ernst and Young, Oracle
Employment	Over 70,000 IT professionals
Key feature	Includes incubation centre (TBI), start-up village
Promoted by	Government of Kerala (IT Department)

Infopark, Kochi

Feature	Details
Established	2004
Location	Kakkanad, Kochi
Area	250+ acres
Phase II	At Cherthala, Alappuzha
Major companies	TCS, Wipro, Cognizant, HCL, IBS Software
Employment	Over 50,000 professionals
Special feature	Adjacent to Cochin Special Economic Zone

SmartCity Kochi

Feature	Details
Concept	Joint venture between Kerala government and Dubai Holdings
Location	Kakkanad, Kochi (near Infopark)
Area	246 acres
Focus	IT/ITES, innovation, smart living
Status	Phase I operational; buildings occupied
Unique	Mixed-use township — IT + residential + commercial + hospitality

Cyberpark, Kozhikode

Feature	Details
Established	2009 (Phase I operational 2014)
Location	Kozhikode
Area	44+ acres
Purpose	IT/ITES hub for Malabar region
Promoted by	Government of Kerala

Other IT Parks

Park	Location	Key Facts
UL Cyberpark (Phase II)	Kozhikode	Under development
IT parks under KINFRA	Multiple districts	Smaller industrial parks with IT focus
Startup Village	Thiruvananthapuram	India’s first telecom incubator

KINFRA — Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation

Feature	Details
Established	1993
Nature	Statutory body under the Government of Kerala
Purpose	Develop industrial infrastructure; establish industrial parks and zones
HQ	Thiruvananthapuram

Major KINFRA Parks

Park	District	Focus
KINFRA Industrial Park Kakkanad	Ernakulam	General industry
KINFRA Export Promotion Industrial Park (KEPIP)	Ernakulam	Export-oriented units
KINFRA Film and Video Park	Thiruvananthapuram (Kazhakkoottam)	Film production; one of the largest film studios in India
KINFRA Small Industries Park	Multiple districts	MSMEs
KINFRA Integrated Industrial and Textile Park	Palakkad	Textile and garment manufacturing
KINFRA Seafood Park	Alappuzha	Seafood processing and export
KINFRA Food Processing Park	Kozhikode, Pathanamthitta	Food processing
KINFRA Defence Park	Ottapalam, Palakkad	Defence equipment manufacturing

Traditional Industries of Kerala

1. Coir Industry

Feature	Details
Raw material	Coconut husk fibre
India’s rank	India is the largest coir producer in the world; Kerala produces over 80% of India’s coir
Major areas	Alappuzha (capital of coir industry), Kollam, Ernakulam
Products	Coir rope, mats, mattresses, rubberised coir, geotextiles
Employment	About 3.5 lakh workers (mostly women)
Coir Board	Statutory body under Ministry of MSME; HQ in Kochi
Coir Board established	1953 (under Coir Industry Act, 1953)
Export destinations	USA, UK, Germany, China, Australia
Challenges	Low wages, competition from synthetic alternatives, declining coconut production

2. Cashew Industry

Feature	Details
India’s position	India is a major processor and exporter of cashew kernels
Kerala’s role	Kerala was historically the cashew processing capital of India (Kollam district)
Major area	Kollam — over 600 cashew factories historically
Raw nuts source	Most raw cashew now imported from Africa (Tanzania, Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau)
Employment	About 1.5-2 lakh workers (predominantly women)
Cashew Export Promotion Council	HQ in Kochi
Processing	Manual shelling and peeling (Kerala’s competitive advantage — quality)
Challenges	Raw material shortage (import-dependent), competition from Vietnam and other states, factory closures

3. Handloom Industry

Feature	Details
Major centres	Balaramapuram (Thiruvananthapuram), Kuthampully (Thrissur), Chendamangalam (Ernakulam)
Famous products	Kerala Kasavu saree (mundum neriyathum — cream/white with gold border)
Balaramapuram	Known for fine cotton handloom; GI tag for Balaramapuram Handloom
Kuthampully	Known for Kasavu sarees and mundus; GI tag
Chendamangalam	Handloom products; GI tag
Handloom weavers	About 35,000-40,000 families
Key institution	Hantex (Kerala State Handloom Weavers’ Cooperative Society)
GI tags	Balaramapuram, Kuthampully, Chendamangalam — all have Geographical Indication

4. Rubber Industry

Feature	Details
Kerala’s share	Produces about 90% of India’s natural rubber
Major districts	Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta
Rubber Board	Statutory body; HQ in Kottayam
Established	1947 (Rubber Act, 1947)
Products	Latex, RSS (Ribbed Smoked Sheets), tyres (Apollo, MRF, CEAT have factories in Kerala)
Kottayam	Rubber capital of India

5. Spice Industry

Feature	Details
Kerala’s title	”Spice Garden of India”
Major spices	Pepper (black gold), cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, turmeric
Pepper production	Kerala is India’s largest pepper producer
Cardamom	Idukki is a major cardamom producer
Spices Board	HQ in Kochi
Historic importance	Spice trade brought Portuguese, Dutch, French, and British to Kerala

6. Other Important Industries

Industry	Key Details
Seafood processing	Kerala is a major marine product exporter; Kochi is a processing hub; MPEDA (Marine Products Export Development Authority) HQ in Kochi
Tourism	”God’s Own Country”; backwaters, hill stations, wildlife, Ayurveda; contributes about 10% of GSDP
Tiles and ceramics	Feroke tiles (Kozhikode), Kerala Ceramics
Bamboo and reed	Traditional craft industry; Wayanad, Idukki
Beedi industry	Kannur, Kozhikode — large employment
Plywood	Perumbavoor (Ernakulam) — plywood manufacturing hub

Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) of Kerala

PSU	Location	Product/Service
Travancore Titanium Products (TTP)	Thiruvananthapuram	Titanium dioxide
Kerala Minerals and Metals (KMML)	Kollam (Chavara)	Titanium sponge, rare earth minerals
FACT (Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore)	Kochi (Ambalamedu)	Fertilizers (Udyogamandal and Ambalamedu plants)
Cochin Shipyard	Kochi	Shipbuilding; largest shipyard in India by size
HIL (Hindustan Insecticides Limited)	Kochi	Pesticides
NTPC Kayamkulam	Alappuzha	Thermal power
Kochi Refineries (BPCL)	Kochi	Petroleum refining

PSC Quick Recall

Question	Answer
First technology park in India	Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram (1990)
SmartCity Kochi is a JV with	Dubai Holdings
KINFRA established	1993
Capital of coir industry	Alappuzha
Coir Board HQ	Kochi
Cashew processing centre	Kollam
Rubber Board HQ	Kottayam
Spices Board HQ	Kochi
Kerala produces __% of India’s rubber	About 90%
Balaramapuram is famous for	Handloom
KINFRA Film and Video Park location	Kazhakkoottam, Thiruvananthapuram
Largest shipyard in India	Cochin Shipyard
FACT located at	Kochi (Udyogamandal)
KMML located at	Chavara, Kollam
Infopark is at	Kakkanad, Kochi