State needs to create credible governance mechanism to attract NRI investments: Experts

‘Pravasi Partnership’ session held at ‘Reimagining Keralam’ initiative

Trivandrum / September 18, 2026

Thiruvananthapuram, Sept. 18: The state has to create a credible and well-governed mechanism for attracting more NRI investments in flourishing sectors, said experts at a session at the ‘Reimagining Keralam’ event here today.

While participating in the session on ‘Pravasi Partnership’ on the concluding day of the three-day event, they stressed that Keralam has to be connected to India's existing global business corridor, besides bringing investors from different channels. 

‘Reimagining Keralam’ initiative featured a series of Round Table Conferences (RTCs) to evolve the framework for fast-tracking the transformational projects announced by the State Government in the 2026-27 Budget.

Ms Anjana M, Special Secretary, NORKA, chaired the session which was attended by Shri Asif K Yusuf, Director, NORKA Department; Shri Rajesh Madhavan, CEO, NORKA; and NRI entrepreneurs.

Ms Anjana said the focus of the roundtable was on standardizing of Pravasi investments.

She said Keralam receives around Rs 2.17 lakh crore per year in remittances, and holds nearly 3 lakh crore in non-resident deposits. Most of it flows into land, housing, and loan repayment, and the deposits are lent towards the borrowers anywhere in India.

“We do not lack capital; but we don’t have a credible and governed channel through which a small share of it can be invested at home. The Pravasi Partnership scheme was announced in the state Budget 2026-27,” Ms Anjana added.

Mr Sreedhar from GIF said instead of repeatedly chasing investors with individual projects, it is important to build a credible pipeline, independently classify opportunities by risk and return, match them to the appropriate retail HNI or institutional or strategic investor, and provide the right regulated pathway for each.

Mr Sreedhar suggested that Keralam should connect to India's existing global business corridor as well, besides bringing investors from different channels.

Mr. M. Abdul Karim of IBPC Dubai said “When we are introducing any product for NRI, it must be capital secured and there should be flexibility as they can withdraw the money anytime. Besides, there must be a return much better than bank deposit.”

Mr Karim said Keralam has to give an investible proposition about the credible assets, scale, professional governance, predictable execution, the exit feasibility when one can exit if one needs. The state can highlight relevant and strategic value through sectors such as healthcare, food security, logistics, tourism, technology, energy, and human capital.

Some participants also stressed the need for the state to attend major conferences organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), NASSCOM, ASSOCHAM, Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI), Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) and similar chambers and the embassies.

The September 16-18 ‘Reimagining Keralam’ brought together ministers, top bureaucrats, domain experts, representatives of government departments and agencies, regulatory authorities, knowledge institutions, industry, funding agencies and stakeholders from multiple sectors to give concrete shape to the project proposals, setting them on clearly defined implementation pathways.

Ends