NRIs to help set up 'affordable' shops across Kerala

A new retail chain to promote sale of indigenously produced consumer goods by small and medium enterprises is being set up in the South Indian state of Kerala.

Representatives of Concern of Indian Small Scale Industries Retail Management (CISSIL) announced in Dubai that they plan to set up 1,000 ‘Ente Kada’ (My Shop) outlets, which will be a network of retail stores that will sell various goods produced in the state by small-scale units and self-reliance groups such as Kudumbashree units.

Of these, Non-Resident Indian (NRI) investors are offered 300 outlets of ‘Ente Kada’ all over the state. CISSIL officials said: “300 outlets are offered to NRI investors or NRIs who have returned home after retirement. Thirty per cent of the retail network is meant for NRI investors from Kerala who can set up ‘Ente Kada’ shops in their villages and help about 9,000 plus small-scale producers and self-service woman’s groups.

“We plan to create a large retail store network of 1000 outlets across Kerala with a balanced mix of fast moving commodity goods products which are already widely available with the traditional products which are not very popular, at reasonable pricing,” said Sabu Kumar S, Managing Director, CISSIL. Of the outlets, 180 are already integrated through a software to procure goods directly from manufactures.

The retail network will include about 9,000-plus manufacturers, 50,000 distributors across the state. The network will also sell affordable medicines distributed through ‘Jan Oushadhi Scheme’.

"Investors can start their operation on 500sq ft to 999 square feet of space with a minimum of Rs6,92,500 which includes registration fee, facilitation expenses and taxes. The plan is to have two smart shops in each panchayat with three employees each. ‘Classic Shops’ will spread out on an area of 1000-1499 sq ft with an investment of Rs11,92,500. One ‘Classic Shop’ is being planned in each panchayat. And ‘Legend Shops’ will occupy an area exceeding 1500 sq ft and with an investment of Rs.16,42,500. Each Municiple Corporation will have one ‘Legend Shop’ eight employees.

These shops are expected to create about 3,000 employment opportunities in the state.

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