Kochi Smart City: Decision on next Cabinet, says Sarma

State Fisheries Minister and Smart City Chairman S Sarma today said that the talks held between MA Yousaf Ali and Tecom authorities, in connection with the Smart City project will be briefed to Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan.

The Cabinet will discuss the chances of the project after the discussion with CM, Sarma said. Ali held two rounds of talks with the authorities of TECOM.
Earlier, Tecom CEO Fareed Abdul Rahman stated that they were interested to implement the project as per the existing agreement and said they have informed their stand to Ali.

Meantime, Yousaf Ali said that he will hold talks with the Chief Minister on Saturday.

Yet Another 'final' letter on SmartCity Kochi project to be sent to Tecom: Kerala CM

The Kerala government is all set to handover a letter again to the Tecom company as a final warning for clarifying its stance regarding the much awaited Smart city project in Kochi. The decision was taken in the cabinet meeting held today.

TECOM, the promoters of the project, has been asking for 12% freehold land right whereby they will even be able to sell the land. TECOM had announced that jobs would be offered to 90,000 persons, when the project is ready. But, so far not even a single person has obtained any job. They are delaying the project by raising unnecessary things.

As of now, Smart City project is clouded by uncertainties. If it fails, then it could bring about a big loss, both in money-wise and employment-wise and the sole responsibility will be the politics in Kerala.

Smart City Kochi project should go on with Dubai Government, demands Congress

The Congress’s Kerala unit Thursday demanded that the proposed Rs.1,500-crore Smart City Kochi mega IT project should go ahead with the participation of the Dubai government.

Addressing reporters here, Leader of Opposition Oommen Chandy said this project has to go ahead with the Dubai government because it is an international venture.

“If the state government does anything without them, then it is not going to be a Smart City. This project has been hanging fire for a few years now, and knowing the importance of this mega project, we had offered our full support to see that this project becomes a reality,” he said.

Chandy’s reaction came after the V.S. Achuthanandan-led Left Front government Tuesday announced that very soon it will decide on the fate of the project and would not hesitate to go ahead with the project without Smart City Dubai.

The first round of talks between the Kerala government and TECOM, the venture of the Dubai government which had set up Smart City Dubai, took place between 2004-06 when Chandy was the chief minister, and it was near the end of his tenure that the proposal for Smart City Kochi was inked.

But following stiff opposition from the then leader of opposition V.S.Achuthanandan, who contended that Smart City Dubai had no experience in IT and was merely a real estate company, Chandy did not go ahead with the project - even after the Kerala High Court gave him the green signal.

But Achuthanandan, after becoming the chief minister in 2006, inked the proposal again with Smart City Dubai in 2007, just ahead of the first anniversary of his government.

Three years later and after 22 director board meetings of Smart City Kochi, the Kerala government has been adamant that under no circumstances can the freehold property, which Smart City Dubai will be getting for the project, be sold.

Smart City Dubai is sticking to the agreement which accords to it 12 percent freehold rights.

TECOM inaugurate first office building at SmartCity Malta

TECOM Investments, a member of Dubai Holding, has achieved a major milestone with the official inauguration of the first office building (SCM01) at SmartCity Malta. The dedicated IT business park is TECOM Investments' first overseas venture undertaken by SmartCity, TECOM Investments' international business parks developer.

Among those attending the inauguration were Malta's Prime Minister Dr Lawrence Gonzi, Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt, Dubai Holding CEO Ahmad Bin Byat, TECOM Investments' Group CEO Abdullatif AlMulla, and SmartCity Chief Executive Officer Fareed Abdulrahman.

Speaking at the inauguration, Dr Gonzi said: "We are today witnessing the beginning of a renaissance for Malta and for our economy. SCM01 is yet another symbol of Malta's investment attractiveness, strong economic fundamentals and potential. This is the realisation of a dream. A dream that sees Malta become a regional and global player in ICT."

The SmartCity Malta model is based on TECOM Investments' successful business parks, including Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City and Dubai Knowledge Village.

Bin Byat said SmartCity Malta is a testimony to the strong bond that exists between TECOM Investments and the Maltese government. He added: "Our joint intention is to develop SmartCity Malta into a major new centre of excellence for knowledge based companies. I believe SmartCity Malta will make a significant contribution to Malta's economy, by opening up new development avenues, specifically in the IT and IT-enabled services sectors."

The delivery of the 12,000 square metres of office space, three years after the announcement of the ambitious project, marks the end of the first phase of the construction of SmartCity Malta.

AlMulla said: "This is the first international project to become operational for TECOM Investments. I am confident this is the first of many projects we will launch worldwide. SmartCity Malta will help to facilitate UAE-based companies expansion into Europe, in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai."

SmartCity Malta is the centerpiece of Malta's transformation from an old economy based on low-cost manufacturing to a new economy based on information and communication technology (ICT). It will generate 5,600 jobs and create more than 105,000 sq m of office space for ICT, media companies and related services.

The entire development is designed to enable knowledge-based companies to maximize their growth potential. While companies will benefit from high-quality infrastructure and support systems, knowledge workers will gain an ideal environment to work, network, and exchange ideas and industry information.

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Tecom cannot dictate the government were to sign and what not to do:Kerala finance minister Thomas Isaac

Coming down heavily upon the Tecom authorities, the main promoters of SmartCity project., Kerala finance minister Thomas Isaac said, the Tecom cannot dictate the government were to sign and what not to do.
Thomas Isaac said, the Tecom is putting some fresh demands and the LDF government is not liable to heed to each demand put forward by Tecom

Thomas Isaac said, like the UDF government the LDF will not succumb to pressure tactics.
Minister said, the government is committed to implement the project and the project will materialize at the same place where it was planned
Thomas Isaac added that, the project was bought to Kochi after several rounds of discussion at various levels.

Last week, Kodiyeri BalakrishnanMinister of Home Affairs had said that, the government would look for “other options” if Smart City Dubai, the developer of the proposed Rs.1,500-crore ($300 million) IT project, did not resolve its differences with the state and start construction soon.

Chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan had laid the foundation stone of the project Nov 16, 2007, but there has been no progress since then.The project has hit a road block with over the issue of giving 12 percent freehold land to the Dubai firm.
The government has given a special economic zone status for 136 acres of the project.
But it has neither completed the registration of the land nor settled a contentious stamp duty issue.

Last month, a two-day meeting between state government officials and a Dubai team failed to break the deadlock.

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Smart City Malta Work in progress

SmartCity Malta has achieved notable progress in the construction of SCM01.

The foundation and retaining structure works at SCM01 have been completed and SmartCity Malta is now engaged in the construction of the super-structure. Aligned with this structural progress, the façade works have also commenced with the appointed local contractor.

SCM01 is the first SmartCity building in Phase One currently under construction. It will consist of 12,000 square meters of ready-to-use Grade A offices to be completed and handed over to the first business partners by 2010, as scheduled.

SmartCity Malta has submitted its application to MEPA for the site-wide grading permit for all phases of the self-sustained business township which will cover the lagoon, shopping boulevard and the residential area. The tender for the site-wide grading has also been issued and grading works are expected to commence shortly.

SmartCity Malta has further invested in an extensive value-engineering exercise to maximise the efficiency of the design and implementation of the entire project. This has resulted in drastic volumetric reductions of excavated earthwork material which is recycled and rehabilitated on the site. By conducting such exercises SmartCity Malta continues to follow sound building practices.

The planning and construction works at SmartCity Malta are shaping up at a fast pace and the building structure is on target according to plan.

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KSEB demands land back, if SmartCity Kochi becomes a reality

The Kerala State Electricity Board has demanded the 104 acres of land earmarked for the Smarcity project which was taken from the KSEB back. The move comes in the wake of delay in implementing the Smartcity project.

Talking to media here, Electricity Minister AK Balan said, the move was necessary because the Tecom authorities were using pressure tactics.

The 100 acres of land previously owned by KSEB was included in the lease agreement signed between the State government and Tecom, and was given for Smartcity project after a long drawn battle.

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Kerala CM snubs minister on Smart City Kochi Project

The factional feud in the Kerala-unit of the Communist Party of India Marxist (CPI-M) surfaced once again Wednesday with Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan snubbing his industries minister here, saying his cabinet colleague had no role in the proposed Rs.1,500-crore ($316-million) Kochi Smart City IT park project.
“In this project, he has no role,” Achuthanandan snapped after reporters quizzed him on Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem’s recent statement that all contentious issues regarding the IT project would be resolved in a week.

The factional feud in the CPI-M is centred around Achuthanandan and the party’s state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, to whom Kareem owes allegiance.

The Smart City project seems to have collapsed after its overseas developers, Smart City Dubai, Sunday said it had withdrawn the contract with UK-based planner Collin Buchnan to develop the IT township project.

It said its decision was taken as the state government was not honouring the agreement the two had reached.

Achuthanandan, who also handles the IT portfolio, said he has asked Chief Secretary Neela Gangadharan to initiate talks with the Dubai developer to sort out differences.

Smart City Dubai urged the state government June 1 to assure 12 percent of the land for the project be made freehold.

The company said despite its “best efforts to sort out issues by way of action”, it has “only heard statements” in the media about more discussions on the subject.

There has been no progress in the Smart City Kochi project since Achuthanandan laid the foundation stone Nov 16, 2007.

The project, proposed to be jointly launched by the state government and Smart City Dubai, is slated to come up on a 246-acre plot with 8.8 million square feet of built-up space, of which 70 percent is earmarked for IT and IT-enabled services.

The government has already given a special economic status to 136 acres of the project area.

However, it has also not completed registration of the land nor settled the stamp duty issue.

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Kerala Minister accuses Tecom of raising fresh demands

A few days after Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said the global slowdown might delay the launch of Kochi’s Smart City project, state Fisheries Minister S. Sarma Monday said the project developer was now making fresh demands that were not part of the agreement.
Smart City Dubai has not even placed a brick at the site, Sarma, also the chairman of the Rs.1,500 crore ($316 million) project, said while speaking at a function here.

“We are bound by the agreement and we will honour it by all means. But instead of going ahead as planned, they (Smart City Dubai) are now coming up with fresh demands,” he said.

“Now they want to get free hold rights of 12 percent of total project land, which amounts to 39 acres. As per the agreement, this becomes due only after the master plan is ready. But the plan is yet to be ready,” the minister added.

Earlier May 20, Achuthanandan had said the developer might not have the required funds because of the financial crunch. He also accused the Dubai-based firm of making “undeserving demands”.

The proposed project, to be jointly launched by the state government and infrastructure major Smart City, is slated to come up on a 246-acre plot with 8.8 million square feet of built-up space, of which 70 percent is earmarked for IT and IT-enabled services.

The foundation stone of the project was laid Nov 16, 2007 by Achuthanandan and since then, barring a few board meetings, there has been no movement in the project.

Earlier Smart City Dubai chief executive Fareed Abdulrahman had said the company wanted the land holding issue settled first.

He added that the company had put on hold recruitment of additional human resources until the freehold issue was resolved.

However, Sarma said the demand was “outside the purview of the agreement”.

“See, we just can’t violate the agreement. If we do so, then it would lead to endless rounds of controversies,” he added.

Meanwhile, the state Youth Congress has called for a march towards the project site June 1, calling for the government’s speedy action to bring the project into reality.

Youth Congress leader P.S. Prasanth said the protest meet would be inaugurated by Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy.

“The state government instead of blaming others first have to do its job. We just can’t afford to lose this project,” said Prasanth.

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SmartCity kochi hits another barricade

Tecom backs out of director board meeting

Tecom wants State to fulfil promises

State reluctant to include ‘patta’ land in fresh lease.

The imbroglio surrounding the proposed SmartCity Kochi project deepened further after Tecom, its Dubai-based promoters, backed out of the sixth director board meeting that was to be held on Monday.

Though indifferent health of the vice-chairman of SmartCity was given as the reason for withdrawing from the board meeting, it had by now become clear that the decision was borne out of the disillusionment with the State government for not fulfilling its promises.

SmartCity wanted the various provisions included in the Framework Agreement signed with the State government in May 2007 to be incorporated in the fresh lease. This included adding of “unacquired patta land” of 19 cents (0.08 hectare) located at the centre of a land measuring 114 acres (46 hectares) and more importantly incorporating a clause pertaining to 12 per cent freehold land. Though the acquisition of 19 cents was not an issue of conflict, it still required the cabinet to approve it, which had not happened yet.

The government’s reluctance to include these provisions in the fresh lease and to sign it subsequently was holding up the entire project.

Talks on same things
It is pointed out that the very same things were discussed in the last five board meetings held during the past one-and-a-half year and there was no point in discussing them a sixth time unless the government was prepared to perform its part.

The government stand, it is learnt, was that the SmartCity should start the construction of the project while all other issues could be resolved later. However, this was unacceptable to SmartCity, which was of the opinion that these key issues cannot be set aside for a future day.

The argument that the State government cannot provide freehold land to a foreign company was also being shot down pointing out that SmartCity Kochi was very much an Indian company registered under the laws of the country with the participation of a State government.

The promoters, it seems, had send out a clear message that they were no longer prepared to wait endlessly. If the government refused to reciprocate in time, the company would be forced to consider various options, including dropping the project altogether or leaving Kerala for the more receptive neighbouring States, it is learnt.

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Protest over SmartCity Kochi delay

Thrikkakkara East and West mandalam committees of the Congress will observe Sunday as “a lost year” marking the completion of one year of the laying of the foundation stone of the proposed SmartCity Kochi project.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Benny Behannan will place a wreath where the foundation stone was laid on November 16 last year. This will be followed by a protest march to the Kakkanad junction where KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala will inaugurate a public meeting to protest the delay in implementing the project. K. Babu, MLA, will preside. District Congress Committee president, V.J. Paulose; United Democratic Front district convener, K.P. Dhanapalan; and former minister, Dominic Presentation, will speak.

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A high-level delegation from SmartCity is set to arrive in Kochi next week

A high-level delegation from SmartCity is set to arrive in the city next week to discuss the proposals of the core committee to expedite the progress of the project and to reach a decision on them.

A core committee with the district collector as chairperson was formed to recommend solutions to the twin problems— the relocation of a Public Works Department (PWD) road and that of the installations of the electricity department —on the 100 acres of the project area.

SmartCity Kochi agreed to share the cost of reconstructing the dormitory complex and relocating the air quality monitoring station of the KSEB. However, the company disagreed over the estimate of Rs.1.04 crore presented by the electricity department for the reconstruction of the dormitory complex. But at the same time it accepted the estimate of Rs.3.40 lakh for the relocation of air quality monitoring station.

The officials will meet the district collector and the core committee members to discuss the issues related to the proposal on cost sharing for relocating the installation and other structures of the electricity department.

The visit is part of the efforts of the promoters to expedite the process of securing the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status for the project. At the last meeting of the director board, the SmartCity officials, in the presence of Fisheries Minister S Sharma, who is also the chairman of SmartCity Kochi, had said that the construction works of the project will start only after getting the SEZ notification from the Centre.

Even though the registration of the land and stamp duty exemption are still pending, SmartCity has decided to sort out other critical issues, a release issued by the company said.

“Today our immediate priority is obtaining the stamp duty exemption and to secure the SEZ status for SmartCity Kochi in order to begin the construction. We have been and will continue to do everything in our hands to remove the bottlenecks and expedite the progress,” said Fareed Abdulrahman, Chief Executive Officer of SmartCity Kochi.

SmartCity Kochi has, in principle, agreed to relocate the PWD road on its own. However, this is yet to be approved by the board members.

SmartCity Kochi will lay the alternative to the PWD road complying with international standards, and on completion it will be handed over to the district administration, the release said.

Meanwhile, SmartCity Kochi has written to the district administration requesting possession of nearly 19 cents within the 100 acres that was not part of the original land deal.

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Smart City team in Kerala to Speed up the progress of Smartcity project

A high-level team of Dubai-based Tecom, which is partnering the Kerala government for SmartCity, is arriving here next week to sort out various issues pertaining to the project.

Though the foundation stone for the project was laid a year ago, civil work is yet to begin. Moreover, it is alleged that Tecom is trying to delay the implementation due to world economic turmoil.

However, Fareed Abdulrahman, CEO of SmartCity, says, “Our immediate priority is to obtain stamp duty exemption and secure SEZ status for SmartCity to enable us to begin the construction. We have been and will continue to do everything in our hands to remove the bottlenecks and expedite the project.”

The proposed land for the project is divided by a river and, therefore, requires two separate approvals for SEZ status. Currently, the project has SEZ status only for 134 acres. The approval for the other 100 acres of Brahmapuram land, which has Kerala State Electricity Board's installations, is pending with the Centre.

The Tecom officials will be meeting the district collector and the core committee members to discuss issues related to cost sharing for relocating the installation and other structures on the 100 acres.

Meanwhile, SmartCity has, in principle, agreed to relocate the PWD road inside the project land at its own cost. However, this is yet to be approved by the board members. The company has proposed to lay an alternative road.

Further, SmartCity Kochi has already approached the district administration to acquire approximately 19 cents of the land located in the heart of the 100-acre land parcel, which was not part of the initial proposal.

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SmartCity Kochi authorities are yet to respond to the proposals of a core committee

SmartCity Kochi authorities are yet to respond to the proposals of a core committee formed to look into the hurdles in the progress of the proposed project.

“We have already forwarded the proposals to the State government. It is now for the project development team of SmartCity Kochi to study the recommendations and submit a proposal to the company authorities for approval,” said District Collector M. Beena. This, she said, was not happening at a great speed at the moment.

A core committee with district collector as chairperson was formed to recommend solutions to the twin problems - the relocation of a Public Works Department (PWD) road and that of the installations of the electricity department – on the 100 acres of the project area.

She said that a State-level meeting is on the anvil to follow up on the proposals of the core committee. The discussion is expected to take place on Monday on the sidelines of a meeting to discuss the land acquisition for the second phase expansion of Infopark.

Unless a final decision was reached on these two issues, the promoters would not be able to approach the Board of Approval for SEZs of the Union government seeking SEZ status for 100 acres involved. Meanwhile there are reports that Fareed Abdulrahman, the chief executive officer of SmartCity Kochi, might visit the city in the next few days. In that case, efforts would be made to broach the issues with him.

At its first meeting held on October 18, the core committee had recommended the SmartCity Kochi authorities to relocate the PWD road on its own citing the procedural delay if it were to be undertaken on a cost sharing basis with the government.

Since the company was a direct beneficiary of the road, it had an equal interest in the quality of the relocated road.

The committee had also approved the estimate of Rs. 2 crore placed before it by the PWD for the relocation of the road. SmartCity Kochi agreed to share the cost of reconstructing the dormitory complex and relocating the air quality monitoring station of the electricity department. However, the percentage of cost sharing between the stakeholders was yet to be decided. The committee’s recommendation to the company was to reconstruct the dormitory on its own to avert any procedural delay. While SmartCity disagreed over the estimate of Rs. 1.04 crore presented by the electricity department for the reconstruction of the dormitory complex, it accepted the estimate of Rs. 3.40 lakh for the relocation of air quality monitoring station.

However, all these proposals of the committee were subject to the approval of the director board of the SmartCity Kochi.

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SmartCity promotes Kochi and Malta at GITEX 2008

At GITEX 2008, SmartCity, a joint venture between TECOM and Sama Dubai, both members of Dubai Holding, is presenting landmark status updates of its current projects in Kochi and Malta.

SmartCity is actively marketing the development of knowledge based communities, like SmartCity Malta and SmartCity Kochi, to senior CIOs, knowledge workers and IT professionals from some of the Middle East’s most dynamic business and government organisations, as well as developers from the world’s leading IT companies.

Held in Dubai, GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2008 builds upon the global interest in the Middle East’s ICT landscape by presenting a power-packed week of dedicated trade segments, which includes GITEX Business Solutions, GULFCOMMS and Consumer Electronics. Focusing on the region’s fastest growing sectors – these three distinct, yet closely related segments, deliver focused forums for key buyers and decision-makers from across the region.

On Tuesday 21st October, Claudio Grech, SmartCity Malta CEO, will be delivering a presentation to a series of potential regional operators, explaining how SmartCity Malta is set to become the European ICT and Media destination offering unparalleled services to its partners in the first knowledge-based township in the region.

Commenting on the developments, Fareed Abdulrahman, SmartCity CEO said: “SmartCity Malta and SmartCity Kochi are the first two nodes in a top-tier global network of excellence townships. In the next few years, both of these SmartCity entities will open up a world of opportunities not only for the people of Malta and Kerala, who will benefit from new jobs, but also for the knowledge-based industry that will now have access new markets, talent pools and business partners. This will create prosperous and educated societies underpinned by long-term and extensive networks of life and work opportunities.”

SmartCity aims to create a global network of self-sustained business townships to foster knowledge-based businesses in strategically located destinations worldwide. These townships will harness commerce by providing an environment conducive to business, intelligent infrastructure and advanced support systems. SmartCity entities worldwide, will be home to a vibrant knowledge economy anchored by international, regional and local companies. The SmartCity strategy is based on the successful models of Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City and Dubai Knowledge Village.
SmartCity Malta, developed in partnership with the Government of Malta, has just received permits to begin construction from the Malta Environment and Planning authority (MEPA) and is set to become the leading ICT and media cluster in the heart of the Mediterranean. It will also be the first European outpost of the SmartCity global network. On completion, which is expected to be in 2021, SmartCity Malta will offer a combination of ICT and media office space, hotels, a conference centre, retail, food and beverage outlets, residential units and open public spaces. The USD300 million knowledge based township, which overlooks the Mediterranean Sea, is the largest foreign investment in Malta and is expected to create 5,600 jobs.

SmartCity Kochi is a joint venture between SmartCity and the Government of Kerala, on a site of 246 acres in the rapidly expanding Southern Indian state of Kerala. SmartCity Kochi is currently undergoing the necessary procedures to obtain the SEZ notification from the Authorities. Construction will commence when full approvals are received. SmartCity Kochi will eventually become a regional destination for knowledge-based industries in Kerala. SmartCity Kochi will also host a number of business support services as well as residential, hospitality, retail and recreational facilities. The project has an employment generation potential of 90,000 jobs.

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SmartCity targets global investors for key projects

The South Indian state of Kerala is encouraging UAE investors to set up special economic zones and technology parks.

The state is talking to several leading UAE investors including the SS Lootah Group, non-resident Indian groups and Emaar MGF.

SmartCity Kochi, a joint venture between the Government of Kerala and Dubai's Tecom, is an Rs17 billion (Dh1.28bn) project to develop 8.8 million sq ft of built-up space. Other UAE investors are keen to participate in IT projects in Kerala, a senior government official told Emirates Business.

Dr Ajay Kumar, Secretary, Information Technology, Government of Kerala said: "We are currently negotiating with leading business groups from the UAE like SS Lootah and NRI bodies for joint IT projects in the state. We are offering several key projects with special economic status to UAE investors including a 450-acre technology project in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital.

He said Emaar MGF, the Indian subsidiary of UAE-based Emaar, is also negotiating for an IT special economic zone in Kerala.

Dr Ajay said the Kerala Government was also considering a plan to encourage small and medium-sized NRI groups from the Gulf region to set up IT parks in rural and semi-urban centres throughout the state.

"The UAE-based SS Lootah Group is keen to have a major presence in Kerala's IT sector and we are not feeling depressed about the current slowdown in the US and European markets, the main source of business for IT outsourcing firms," he added.

Projects includes a 25-acre site in Kollam with special economic zone status. Investors would have to use 70 per cent of the area for industrial operations and 30 per cent for commercial developments such as convention centres, recreational facilities and socio-economic infrastructure.

The expected investment for one project is Rs300 crores. In Cherthala, six five-acre units are available and the investment sought is Rs50 crores per project. In the same city there are plans for a technocity – an integrated IT township – covering 60 acres. An 80-acre technocity project in the same city needs hotels, convention centres and recreational facilities worth Rs800 crores.

N Radhakrishnan Nair, CEO of Technopark Thiruvananthapuram, said the centre was undergoing major expansion involving the addition of a further 92-acre section and a 450-acre technocity. He said the Taj Group has commissioned a business class hotel inside the Technopark.

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Kerala ink land lease agreement of SmartCity Kochi

Moving a step forward, SmartCity Kochi, the joint venture between SmartCity and the Kerala government, on Tuesday signed the lease agreement for the remaining 11.4 acres of land. This makes up the northern land parcel of 136 acres.

The agreement was signed by state IT secretary Ajay Kumar and SmartCity chief executive officer Fareed Abdulrahman in Thiruvananthapuram.

SmartCity Kochi will come up on a total 246 acres near Kakkanad, a Kochi suburb. It currently has an informal SEZ approval of 133 acres of the land.

The signing of this agreement is expected to enable SmartCity Kochi to progress with the SEZ notification process.

SmartCity Kochi is currently in the process of setting up a fully functional sales office in Kochi.

The sales office will allow direct contact with potential business partners and allow a more hands-on approach to the development and relations between SmartCity Kochi and its stakeholders.

The first general Smart City Board to meet July 3

The first general body meeting of SmartCity Kochi stakeholders here today decided to hold the third board of directors meeting here on July three to discuss various issues including SEZ status for the project and the Master Plan.

The general body meeting, a statutory requirment, was attended by Chairman of SmartCity Kochi and State Fisheries Minister S Sarma, Additional Secretary, IT Dept, Sreela, Smart City Business Development Manager Sulaiman Al-Riyami, Marketing Manager Mithun Beru and Project Director Baju George.

Smart City Kochi is a joint venture between the Kerala Government and Dubai-based TECOM Investments and SAMA Dubai. Among the issues to be discussed by the Board of Directors will be SEZ status for the project, the master plan, the lease for an 11.75 acre of land lying in the project area and the removal of a PWD Road passing through the Smart City area, sources said.

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Smart City Kochi: Two consultants short-listed

Giving impetus to the proposed Smart City project, a director board meeting of the company here on Wednesday short-listed two consultants for drawing up a master plan for the project. The names of the consultants would be announced as soon as the formalities in this regard are over.

“The short-listing of master planners for SmartCity Kochi is a defining step towards our commitment to the fulfilment of the project. The master plan will focus on creating complete business and community infrastructure keeping in mind the requirements of high-quality work environment for knowledge-based industries and the experience of a rich community lifestyle for its workers,” Fareed Abdulrahman, Chief Executive Officer of SmartCity, said.

The company had received proposals from four national and international players for preparing the master plan last year.

Though the lease agreement for the remaining 12 acres, which were excluded from the lease deed signed last November owing to the presence of inhabitants, was to be signed on Wednesday, it did not materialise.

The meeting inducted into the board as directors Anirudha Damkey, Director of Finance, Tecom Investments, and Ajay Kumar, Secretary, State Information Technology.

The company has taken steps for securing the Special Economic Zone status for the remaining 100 acres. In addition to this, efforts are being made to obtain another 167 acres for future development of the project.

The Board decided to participate in the forthcoming OutsourceWorld Exhibition in London to promote Kochi as a major centre of Information Technology and IT Enabled Services. Kochi will be showcased to the world as a hub for knowledge-based excellence.

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Second Director Board meeting of SmartCity kochi held

SmartCity Kochi, a self-sustained township for the knowledge-based Industry, today conducted its second Board of Directors' meeting in which a lease agreement for additional land was signed, two Board Directors were appointed and as many master planners short-listed for the project here.

Kerala Fisheries Minister and Board of Directors Chairman S Sarma and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SmartCity Fareed Abdul Rehman signed a lease agreement for an additional twelve acres of land for the project.

Recently, the Board for approval of Special Economic Zone(SEZ) at the Centre had accorded SEZ status for 136 acres of land and steps were initiated to obtain the same status for the remaining 100 acres of land, which had in-principle SEZ approval of the Board.

The Board, which met to take stock of the recent developments and to decide on the future course of action under the Chairmnaship of Mr Sarma, also short-listed two master planners for the project.

Mr Fareed said '' the shortlisting of the master planners was a defining moment and they will focus on creating a complete business and community infrastructure for the project.'' The Board had also decided to induct Director of Finance TECOM Investments Anirudh Damkey and Secretary to Department of IT Ajay Kumar as new members.

The first Directors' board meeting was held on December, 2007.

The Vice-Chairman Abdul Lateef Almulla, Project Director Babu George, Business Development Officer Deepak Padmanabhan and Jamal Abdul Salam, were among others present on the occasion.

The Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan laid the foundation stone for the multi-crore project, promoted jointly by Dubai-based Tecom and the State Government, on November 16 last year.

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