Kozhikode to launch national roadshow ‘Destination Expand North Star’

Kozhikode / October 8, 2026

Kozhikode, Oct 8: Kozhikode’s growing stature as an IT and startup destination in Kerala will gain prominence as the city kicks off the opening leg of the national ‘Destination Expand North Star’ roadshow on Saturday.

Organised by Zentral, a hospitality-led business hub at Dubai World Trade Centre, and Calicut Forum for IT (CAFIT), the roadshow will be held at HiLITE Business Park and offer technology entrepreneurs from India an opportunity to gain access to Expand North Star 2026 and GITEX Global 2026, two major international platforms for startups, technology and innovation.

The roadshow will bring global networking and market opportunities closer to Kozhikode’s expanding technology and startup ecosystem.

The choice of Kozhikode as the opening venue underscores the city’s growing importance as an IT hub in Malabar. With a steadily expanding base of technology startups, established IT companies and skilled professionals, the city has emerged as a key destination for technology-led growth in North Kerala.

Following Kozhikode, the roadshow will travel to Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kanniyakumari, Coimbatore, Chennai and Bengaluru, connecting India’s technology and startup ecosystem with global opportunities centred around Dubai.

The initiative will provide local entrepreneurs with an opportunity to connect directly with international investors and global markets. It aims to help Indian technology founders explore international markets, access global capital and identify potential customers, business partners and investment opportunities.

The programme is being supported by Infopark, Cyberpark and Technopark under the Government of Kerala, Startup TN, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), GTECH, and World Trade Centre (Chennai, Bengaluru and Kochi).

As part of the roadshow, 100 selected Indian startup founders will get an opportunity to travel to Dubai for a special seven-day experience built around Expand North Star and GITEX Global 2026. Their visit will be based at Zentral Business Hub at Dubai World Trade Centre.

“Rather than simply bringing founders to an exhibition and sending them back, our aim is to enable them to identify long-term partnerships and investment opportunities in global markets,” said Rafees Rahmathulla, Chief Executive Director, Zentral.

The initiative would provide a clear pathway for talent from emerging IT hubs such as Kozhikode to expand globally through Dubai, he pointed out. 

The Kozhikode roadshow will bring together IT entrepreneurs, investors and industry leaders. Experts will discuss global market expansion, investment opportunities and business prospects.

For more information, contact  admin@zentral.world or visit  www.zentral.world.

Details of the roadshow and registration are available at  https://roadshow.zentral.world.

ENDS