About Kozhikode

Kozhikode, also known as Calicut, is a city in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is the third-largest city in Kerala and the headquarters of Kozhikode district. During the Middle Ages, Kozhikode was dubbed the “City of Spices” for its role as a major trading point for eastern spices.

The district has a generally humid climate, with a hot season extending from March to May. The main rainy season occurs during the South-West Monsoon, which begins in the first week of June and lasts until September. The North-East Monsoon extends from the second half of October through November. The average annual rainfall is 3,266 mm. The best weather is found towards the end of the year, in December and January, when the skies are clear, and the air is crisp. The city is well-connected by road, rail, and air. Other modes of transportation include auto-rickshaws, taxis, and ordinary and luxury buses. The international airport, located about 20 kilometers from the city, ensures connectivity with major national and international cities.

The pollution-free atmosphere and the large pool of skilled human talent available in the region make it an ideal destination for knowledge-based industries. The people of Kozhikode are well-known worldwide for their honesty, giving the town a reputation that makes it a suitable location for IT and ITES industries, which leverage high-quality manpower.

The availability of low-cost, highly skilled resources—of which a substantial portion comprises qualified female IT professionals—along with good civil infrastructure, including an international airport with over 50 daily flights connecting to Middle Eastern, European, and American destinations, quality hospitals, international schools, shopping malls, and entertainment facilities, makes it imperative that an SEZ be developed at the earliest. This will ensure the growth of knowledge-based units in the region, contributing to further social and economic development. It will also help penetrate economic growth into the peripheral rural economy, where it is currently concentrated in urban areas. The current proposal for establishing an IT SEZ in Kozhikode is a step in this direction.