Industries

* **Tourism:** A major pillar of the economy, globally recognized for backwater houseboats, hill stations, Ayurvedic retreats, and heritage tourism. * **Information Technology (IT):** Anchored by massive tech parks like Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram and Infopark in Kochi, employing hundreds of thousands in software and services. * **Agro-Processing & Spices:** World leaders in the processing and export of black pepper, cardamom, cashew nuts, and coir (coconut fiber). * **Healthcare & Medical Tourism:** Boasts a world-class public and private healthcare system, drawing international patients for both allopathic and Ayurvedic treatments. * **Shipbuilding & Refining:** Kochi is home to the Cochin Shipyard (the largest shipbuilding facility in India) and the BPCL Kochi Refinery. * **Fisheries:** Extensive marine and inland fishing industries that support coastal economies and export markets.