Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on 02 July, 2025 inaugurated Zoho Corporation’s new Research and Development (R&D) centre at Neduvathoor in Kottarakara, Kollam district. Speaking at the event, the CM announced that exports from Kerala’s Information Technology (IT) sector are set to touch Rs one lakh crore, attributing the growth to a robust ecosystem supported by the state government.

Kerala CM emphasised that Kerala continues to attract significant investments owing to its high-quality infrastructure, strong talent pool, and excellent connectivity, with the Vizhinjam seaport playing a key role. The state is currently home to around 6,400 startups, which have collectively attracted investments worth Rs 6,000 crore. Initially, Zoho will recruit 250 young professionals at the Kottarakara R&D centre, offering training in advanced technologies.

The 3.5-acre facility is part of Zoho’s strategic expansion in Tier-II towns to tap into local talent. The event was attended by Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal, MP Kodikunnil Suresh, senior Zoho executives, and former ISRO Chairperson S. Somanath. The CM highlighted the government's vision of transforming Kerala into a global IT hub through innovation-driven investments, technological training, and decentralized development.