The Neon Show Growth, Migration and FDI: The Real Kerala Story with Minister P. Rajeev
This episode is not just about Kerala; it is about how a state with limited land, strict environmental regulations, and a long history of outmigration is approaching investment and growth.
Kerala is a small, densely populated state with limited land to spare, not the typical site for industrial expansion. Yet it’s taking a distinct approach to building a knowledge based economy.
P. Rajeev (Minister for Industries, Law and Coir, Govt of Kerala) joins us to break this down.
We discuss how Kerala rose from the bottom to become the top-ranked state in Ease of Doing Business, what’s behind the ₹1.5 lakh crore in investment pledges, and why the state is prioritizing high-value industries over land and labour-intensive manufacturing.
We also unpack how Kerala plans to convert MOUs into functioning factories and real jobs, and why startups that once moved away are now beginning to stay.
Tune in if you’re curious about how Indian states are attracting investment and rethinking their development models.
0:00 – Trailer
1:18 – Is Kerala Still Fighting Old Perceptions?
5:59 – Kerala to Focus on Value-Added Manufacturing
7:45 – How to Start an IT Firm in Kerala & Where It Missed the Tech Bus
10:35 – What’s Blocking Startups from Scaling in the State?
11:15 – Can Kerala Retain Its Best Talent?
14:20 – Kerala’s Vision for a Free-Thinking Knowledge Economy
16:36 – Repositioning as an Investor-Friendly Destination
19:22 – What the “Nature, People, Industry” Motto Really Means
22:22 – Will Kerala Deliver on Its Investor Summit Promises?
23:42 – Why Vizhinjam Could Be a Game-Changer
26:00 – How Indian States Are Competing for Investments
28:47 – Is Stagnation in Productive Sectors Slowing Development?
32:38 – Is Kerala’s Geography a Barrier to Growth?
33:24 – Are Its Environmental Rules Too Rigid for Industry?
34:22 – Is Communism Holding Kerala Back?
37:48 – When the Communist Govt funded a Private Co.
41:17 – The Real Kerala Story
43:28 – The History Behind Kerala’s Education Revolution
45:14 – What the Kerala Model Must Fix
48:06 – Internet as a Basic Citizen Right
48:56 – Kerala’s Health Workers on the Global Frontlines
51:19 – Can Outsiders Easily Buy Land in Kerala?
53:01 – The State’s Only Unicorn Company
54:21 – Can Startups from Kerala Go Public?
-------------
India’s talent has built the world’s tech—now it’s time to lead it.
This mission goes beyond startups. It’s about shifting the center of gravity in global tech to include the brilliance rising from India.
What is Neon Fund?
We invest in seed and early-stage founders from India and the diaspora building world-class Enterprise AI companies. We bring capital, conviction, and a community that’s done it before.
Subscribe for real founder stories, investor perspectives, economist breakdowns, and a behind-the-scenes look at how we’re doing it all at Neon.
-------------
Check us out on:
Website: https://neon.fund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww
Connect with Siddhartha on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/
Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7
-------------
This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.