The awards of the best entrepreneurs in the state, as well as to district industrial centers and self-governing institutions, were distributed by Minister P. Rajeev, who leads the Department of Commerce and Industry's commerce and industry awards. Minister P. Rajeev mentioned that through the entrepreneurship development program initiated under the leadership of the Department of Commerce and Industry, over five lakh job opportunities have been created in the last two years.
Dr Divya S Iyer, Director, LSGD (Rural); Shri Alex Varghese, Director, LSGD (Urban); Smt Anie Jula Thomas, Officer on Special Duty, Industries; Shri Rajeev, Additional Director, Industries; Shri Ajith Kumar K, Executive Chairman, Board for Public Sector Transformation; Shri Santhosh Koshy Thomas, Managing Director, KINFRA; and Shri A Nisarudeen, State President, KSSIA; were also present.
Chavara in Kollam district won the state award for the Best Grama Panchayat 2022-23, while Thrissur was adjudged the Best Corporation 2022-23. The state award for the Best Municipality 2022-23 went to Mannarkad in Palakkad district. Smt Pamela Anna Mathew, Managing Director, O/E/N India Limited, received the Life Time Achievement Award 2024.
Best Grama Panchayats 2022-23 (district-wise): Parassala (Thiruvananthapuram), Thodiyoor (Kollam), Pallikkal (Pathanamthitta), Pathiyoor (Alappuzha), Thiruvarppu (Kottayam), Adimali (Idukki), Kadungallor (Ernakulam), Vellangallur (Thrissur), Vadakkencherry (Palakkad), Thiruvaly (Malappuram), Perumanna (Kozhikode), Poothadi (Wayanad), Chembilode (Kannur) and Chemmanad (Kasaragod).
Best Municipalities/Corporations 2022-23 (district-wise): Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, Punalur Municipality (Kollam), Chengannoor Municipality (Alappuzha), Vaikkom Municipality (Kottayam), Thodupuzha Municipality (Idukki), Piravom Municipality (Ernakulam), Chavakkad Municipality (Thrissur), Palakkad Municipality, Nilambur Municipality (Malappuram), Kozhikode Municipal Corporation, SulthanBathery Municipality (Wayanad), Anthoor Municipality (Kannur) and Nileswaram Municipality (Kasaragod).
Other state award winners (2021-22): Shri Sujith N (Best Micro Venture: Kalyani Food Products Kollam); Shri Kurian Jose S R (Best Small Venture: Marine Hydro Colloids, Ernakulam); Shri Vasanthakumaran Gopalapillai (Best Medium Venture: Souparnika Exports Enterprises, Kollam); Dr Babu P Maliyekkal (Best Large Enterprise: A K natural Ingredients, Pathanamthitta); Shri Mani M (Best Venture in Scheduled Caste category: Ficore Electronics, Malappuram); Smt Ummu Salma (Best Women Entrepreneurship: Sanjeevani Kudumbashree Unit, Malappuram); Shri Jeemon K Kora (Best Export Venture: Man Canker Ingredients, Ernakulam); and Shri Nitheesh Sundaresan (Best Startup in Product Sector: Varshya Eco Solutions, Thiruvananthapuram).
