Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurates Kerala's first Urban Conclave in Kochi

Kochi: The Kerala Urban Conclave 2025, an event organised to formulate the state's first comprehensive urban policy, began at the Grand Hyatt Convention Centre in Kochi on Friday. Organised under the theme 'Aspiring Cities, Thriving Communities', the conclave was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. 

Vijayan said that Kerala's high rate of urban development should be evaluated in comparison with global urbanisation. “The world population's 60 per cent is urban population, and India constitutes 14 per cent of the global urban population. So it is crucial to evaluate Kerala's urban development activities, ” he said. 

Vijayan also said that, though smaller in area compared to many other Indian states, Kerala is one of the most densely populated states in India.

“Experts predict that by 2035, over 90 per cent of Kerala's population will be urban. A few years ago, The Economist magazine released a list of the fastest-growing cities in the world, and four cities from Kerala were among the top 20. Our urban growth rate is significantly higher than the national average. All this means that Kerala is becoming a state that needs to address urbanisation with the utmost seriousness,” Vijayan said. 

He also said that Kerala has achieved 'Top Achiever' status in the 'Ease of Doing Business' ranking. “Our IT exports are nearing 1 lakh crore rupees. In the last 9 years, the number of startups has increased 21-fold.

​With the goal of creating a skilled labour force, interventions are being made right from the campus level,” he said.

LSGD minister MB Rajesh presided over the inaugural session in which Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, was the chief guest. 

Rajesh said that it is the first time in the history of Kerala that the state government has taken the initiative of organising an Urban Conclave of this scale. 

Sri Lanka's minister for urban development Anuradha Karunathilake, executive council member for infrastructure from South Africa Martin Meyer, ministers KN Balagopal, P Rajeeve, Kochi mayor M Anilkumar, chairman of the Kerala urban policy commission M Satheeshkumar and other public representatives were present. 

Over the two days, 295 speakers will participate in 36 sessions. The event will feature three high-level political forums, five plenary sessions, 10 policy-making sessions, two focus sessions, five fireside chats, and 11 roundtable discussions.

A high-level political forum of ministers will be held with ministers from foreign countries and the central government. In the afternoon, a Counsellors' Assembly will take place, attended by all corporation mayors and municipality chairpersons from Kerala. The event will conclude on Saturday.