Saturday, January 8 2005 13:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kochi: Taking every opportunity coming its way, Kerala showcased its strengths and investment opportunities worth nearly Rs 20,000 crore to a high-level delegation from Qatar led by its deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister, Abdulla Hamad al-Attiyah, in Kochi last night (Jan 7, 2005).

An impressed Abdullah said that he would be happy to strengthen the business relations between Qatar and Kerala and suggested the chambers of commerce of Qatar and Kerala should meet and discuss the investment opportunities in Qatar and Kerala.

The meeting assumes significance in the context of increasing presence of investors in Kerala from the Middle East.

Several projects like the Kochi port's International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) project, costing Rs 2000 crore and the Dubai Internet city project and the LNG terminal project are being taken up with investments and technical cooperation from the investors in the Gulf.

A high level delegation from Dubai will be arriving in Kochi on Jan 18 to finalise the Dubai Internet city project.

While the Dubai Port International (DPI) will be developing the ICTT project on a BOT basis, the Qatar Government has already promised all help for the LNG project at Puthu Vype.

Abdullah said yesterday that when his Government was approached by Petronet for the LNG project, he wanted it to first come up in Kerala. However, that was not to be and India's first LNG project was commissioned at Dhahej in Gujarat.