DK FlipBook-Magzter January 2019

ETERNAL BLOOMS; MASTERING THE
FINE ART OF PRESERVATION
The SME unit by Suresh James and Binimol Suresh
established at KINFRA Industrial Park, Wayanad
brings out preserved flowers and plants. According to
Suresh, it is the first company in India to venture into
flower and foliage preservation. The products brought out
by Eternal Blooms include dehydrated fruits, preserved
flowers and foliage, vacuum-dried fruits and vegetables,
coffee powder and dehydrated spices. In 2009, the company
started off doing flower preservation and in 2014, it
commenced producing dehydrated fruits and vegetables
without additive colours or preservatives. Suresh claims
the company has introduced at least one new product
SURESH JAMES AND BINIMOL
SURESH OF ETERNAL BLOOMS
every year since 2014. Some of the preserved fruits and
vegetables include jackfruit, banana, mango, pumpkin
and ladies finger. The company, launched with an initial
investment of Rs. 89 lakh, now employs around 10 people.
from page 26
livering the presidential address. “In
Kerala, the cost of land is generally
high and its availability is also high.
If we take any project, we can see
that the value of the land constitutes
at least 5 to 10 per cent of the total
project cost. We have come up with
crucial steps to bring about drastic
changes in the entire land allotment
policy for industrial development.
We would like to see that there is
space for the industry by allowing
them to grow vertically and create
small business growth centres by
which people can bring in investment
and lease out the space to
industry. We are living in the times
of disruptive ideas and technologies.
So, if the people are willing to innovate
and come out with new ideas
which cause disruption in the existing
technology, there is potential for
economic growth,” he said.
Venugopal C Govind, MD &
CEO, Varma & Varma Chartered
Accountants, presented an enlightening
session on ‘financial integrity
and statutory compliance’, which
is a matter of concern for the SME
community. “Growth is difficult,
sustenance is difficult, continuous
progress is difficult, collapse can
happen at any time and business is
hugely challenging,” he observed.
“We have come to a stage where
disruption of technology is what is
PROF. K V THOMAS MP
ADDRESSING THE GATHERING
important. Disrupt all the technology,
be creative and innovative.
Product and customer form the
bottom line of all businesses. Right
product with right quality, and to be
in the right place at the right time
are things that keep your customers
happy and satisfied. This relation is
the most important one, whether
the business is big or small,” he
underscored.
The inaugural ceremony was followed
by Jury Report presentation
by Vivek Krishna Govind, Senior
Partner, Varma & Varma Chartered
Accountants and Immediate Past
President, Kerala Management
Association (KMA). “Those who
applied were shortlisted based on
criteria such as information on
financials and product innovation
which they submitted to the jury.
The 10 winners across eight categories
have made it purely on the
basis of their merit. And that is a big
thing. Some of them are not known
to any one of us. But they exist and
deliver. And that is the beauty of this
recognition platform,” he said.
Anand Sarma, Director, KPMG
India; Lekha Balachandran, MD,
ResiTech Electricals, who was also
among the winners of the first edition
of the SME Excellence Awards
(2017); Rajesh Nair, Associate
Partner-Markets, South India, EY
& Immediate Past President of TiE
Kerala and Vivek Krishna Govind
were the jury members for the
awards this year.
Prof. K V Thomas MP presented
the awards to the winners. The award
citation was presented by K Biju IAS
while the gifts sponsored by crocurry.
com and Wilmax England were presented
by Venugopal C Govind.
January 2019 • Destination Kerala / 31