Kerala readying for citizen-centric, tech-led, once-in-a-generation leap: CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Kerala stands at the brink of a once-in-a-generation leap that will define how its young people learn, innovate and build the future, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

Speaking on the concluding day of Huddle Global, the annual three-day flagship event organised by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) at Kovalam on December 14, Vijayan said the southern state is moving into an era where technology is unlocking new opportunities while empowering every citizen.

“This is Kerala’s moment; a moment to show India and the world that Kerala is not just participating in the future. We are helping to shape a Kerala where universities become innovation powerhouses, where global partnerships fuel local breakthroughs, and where every young person feels that this is the best place to dream big, build boldly and scale new heights,” he said.

According to Vijayan, continuity of policies and initiatives is of paramount importance in sustaining the momentum of this shift. At the heart of this transformation is a new culture of openness and collaboration, he added.

Recalling a series of path-breaking policy interventions and initiatives taken by the government in the last few years, he said Kerala is now a large metro-like state, fully connected through optical fibre and providing high-quality talent, together making it an ideal destination for investment and innovation.

He also said the state is committed to sustaining socio-economic progress by addressing complexities in the labour market.

On the occasion, a set of Letters of Intent (LoIs) were exchanged, imparting scale and speed to the state’s start-up ecosystem.

Addressing the event, V Sivankutty, Minister for General Education and Labour, Kerala, noted that the state has made major strides in skill education over the years.

Stating that collaborations entered into for strengthening skill education will be pursued proactively, he said steps are underway to set up a Skill India International Centre in the state capital.

In his address, Saeed Al Falasi, Executive Director, Dubai Centre of AI, Dubai Future Foundation, said bringing about a change in mindset is vitally important to embracing technology-driven social and economic progress. Dubai is a good example of how a change in mindset facilitated a major leap, he pointed out.

S D Shibulal, co-founder of Infosys and vice-chairman of the High Power IT Committee, Government of Kerala, said building an AI-ready Kerala, choosing domains such as space-tech for specialised development, and keeping the state clean and pollution-free are critical areas the state needs to focus on during its transition.

Now in its seventh edition, Huddle Global 2025 showcased the strength of Kerala’s start-up ecosystem.