Kerala finds it difficult to compete globally !

Kerala finds it difficult to compete with other Indian states like Karnataka and T Nadu, let alone the ASEAN countries !

Gujarat and other states have declared their will power to compete with Malaysia and Thailand. It is unfortunate that Kerala finds it difficult to compete with the ASEAN countries !

Kerala is politically balkanised, with the Left and the Saffron parties opposing the ASEAN pact and Congress supporting the pact.

Congress maintains that there are merits. The Left maintains that there are demerits.

India gets access to the one trillion ASEAN market. The services sector worth 180 billion dollars. Indian milk products like AMUL can find their way to the ASEAN markets. Indian IT companies have got a competitive edge than their ASEAN counterparts. India stands to benefit a great deal.

On the contrary, the Leftists aruge that Globalisation has broken the back of the Kerala agri sector. Now 247 districts have been declared as drought affected. Deficient monsoon have wreaked havoc on the Indian economy. Palghat, one of the districts of Kerala, is worst hit. Facing drought and the demerits of the globalising world, Kerala finds itself at the receiving end. To compound the woes of Kerala is the ASEAN pact which will break the backbone of Kerala economy. The import tax on Coffee, tea and Palm Oil will be brought down to less than 50% and this will lead to a crash in prices, putting the Kerala farmers in the doldrums.

Congress maintains that these are micro losses, when compared to the macro gains India is going to have !

Jupiter in Capricorn, debilitated, affects not only the realty and stock markets, but also the economy !