The state's first maritime cluster will be established in Cherthala, Kerala, as announced by Industries, Coir, and Law Minister P. Rajeev. The minister made this announcement at an event in Kochi on March 7. The administration has identified a 15-acre plot for the cluster, which will serve as a business ecosystem to boost shipping businesses. The cluster will be equipped with necessary infrastructure and facilities, specifically benefiting MSMEs in the maritime sector, especially considering the major projects planned by Cochin Shipyard for the next five years.

The minister's announcement follows the government's decision to include maritime among the 22 priority sectors in the state's 2023 Industrial Policy, a move that stemmed from Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan's visit to Norway in October 2022.

The event also featured addresses by S. Harikishore, Managing Director of KSIDC, KSIDC General Manager Varghese Malakkaran, and General Manager (Project Financing) R. Prasanth.