Kozhikode set to emerge as Keralam’s next major IT destination

Keralam is aiming to position Kozhikode as a major IT destination alongside Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi, Chief Minister V D Satheesan said, while laying the foundation stone for the ₹600-crore HiLITE Cyber Tower at Cyberpark, Kozhikode.

The project, he said, would showcase Kerala’s cost-effective and skilled talent pool to global investors. The government would extend full support to investments that promote innovation and development, while encouraging investors and entrepreneurs to contribute to the State’s growth.

Spread across 2.5 acres, the Grade-A commercial development will have a built-up area of 9 lakh sq ft. It is part of HiLITE Group’s larger plan to develop 12 million sq ft of office space over the next few years.

The project is expected to create more than 10,000 direct IT jobs and cater to multinational corporations, high-growth start-ups and advanced research and development centres. It is scheduled for completion in two years, with space expected to be released ahead of completion, said P Sulaiman, Chairman, HiLITE Group.

Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty said Kozhikode was poised to emerge as Kerala’s next major IT destination, following the growth of Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram and Infopark in Kochi.

He said the creation of employment opportunities for the younger generation would depend on the growth of industries and enterprises. The government would support efforts to transform Kozhikode, which has a long trading history, into a globally recognised IT and industrial hub.

“Kerala has the talent and ambition to compete globally, and we need an ecosystem that gives businesses the space to grow alongside it,” said Ajil Muhammed, CEO, HiLITE Group. The Cyber Tower, he added, was part of the group’s effort to create an environment that enables businesses to innovate and expand in Kerala.

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