State Finance Minister K M Mani to head to Paris

KOCHI: To make a detailed study on Goods and Service Tax (GST), Finance Minister K M Mani will travel to Paris along with other finance ministers of the country. He revealed it while speaking on the inaugural ceremony of a seminar on GST jointly organised by Kerala State Small Industries Association (KSSIA), Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, Central Bank of India, Industrial Estate Associations and Manufactures Association. “India is the only country which does not have a GST. To make a detailed study on the topic the finance ministers will meet at Paris. Based on the report of the study to be conducted there, a law in this regard will be implemented at the earliest,” Mani said. He said small scale industries have become an integral part of the economy as the cities fail to attract large scale industries owing to pollution and unavailability of space. The minister said efforts are on to give financial assistance to people who would like to start their own entrepreneurial ventures. He said steps would be taken to give entrepreneurial training to people and provide them with loan, which would be free of interest. “This will enable them to cross the gestation period while starting a business,” he said. The minister also said the state government would take every possible steps to strengthen the social security welfare schemes of the KSSIA.KSSIA, State President V K C Mammad Koya, presided over the function