Chief Minister lays foundation stone for Science Park and IT Park in Kannur

KANNUR: Kerala is the most suitable place in India to build knowledge-based industries, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said. He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the Kannur Science Park and IT Park.

"Kerala has highly qualified human resources, strong public support for a knowledge economy, and government efforts to promote research and development institutions. These factors make the state ideal for setting up knowledge industries. Recognising this potential, the government has decided to establish four Science Parks in the state," the CM said.

"The Digital Science Park, announced earlier, has started functioning at Digital University Kerala in Thiruvananthapuram. The aim is to attract leading international companies to Kerala. With foreign companies and related institutions coming to the state, more job opportunities and economic growth are expected. Investors have expressed interest in investing around Rs 2 lakh crore in areas near Kannur International Airport," he added.

The Chief Minister also unveiled the logo of the Kannur Science Park. The Science Park and IT Park will be built on 50 acres of land at Cheruvalappu near Ancharakandy in Thalassery at a cost of Rs 600 crore. Assembly Speaker A N Shamseer presided over the function. Several officials and public representatives attended the event.

AKG Memorial Museum inaugurated

The Chief Minister also inaugurated the AKG Memorial Museum at Peralassery. He said museums play an important role in resisting the distortion of history. In an age where misinformation spreads quickly through technology, museums serve as centres of knowledge to counter false narratives, he said. He added that it is serious when even people in responsible positions lead such misinformation campaigns.

The museum has been built on 3.30 acres of land near the Ancharakandy River in Thalassery. The two-storey building has six galleries. It features a modern mini theatre showcasing the struggles of A K Gopalan, his parliamentary performances, and the history of the freedom movement. The museum also includes life-size statues, miniatures, video interviews with prominent personalities, and facilities for differently-abled visitors. The museum was built at a cost of Rs 23.32 crore.