Bengaluru, Jan 25: The Karnataka government would hold a Global Investors' Meet (GIM 2020) in Bengaluru from November 3-5 to showcase the southern state's ecosystem for attracting investments from the world over, an official said on Friday.
"Our Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa held the first road show on the GIM at the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting, being held at Davos in Switzerland and invited global firms to participate in the 3-day event for investment opportunities," additional secretary P. Ravikumar told IANS.
At a curtain-raiser on "Invest Karnataka 2020" on Thursday, the BJP Chief Minister said the theme of the GIM would be "Innovate Now. Growth Forever" as the state had one of the best natural and human resources for investing in manufacturing, services and agriculture sectors and creating jobs.
"About 100 entrepreneurs, businessmen and heads of global firms participated in the roadshow to assess the state's industrial policies, incentives, infrastructure, tax system and its ease of doing business for investment potential," Ravikumar said.
Among the participants at the event were Swiss-India parliamentary group president Niklaus-Samuel Gugger, Uber Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi, General Electric (GE) executive William Cowan and heads of Gemini Corporation, Coca Cola, SAP Labs, Swiss Re and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
"Khosrowshahi discussed Uber's expansion plans in Bengaluru and assured the Chief Minister of investing more in the state. Cowen expressed interest in the development of healthcare, renewable energy and power distribution across the state through partnership with the state government," the official noted.
The US-based transnational firm (GE) has a large presence in Bengaluru with one its largest engineering and technology centres and two production plants.
"A Coca Cola executive told Yediyurappa that the soft beverage firm would initially invest $25 million in its plants in the state and enhance it to $200 million to benefit farmers and rural people with access to clean drinking water in their villages," Ravikumar said.
The Chief Minister also sought to know the investment or expansion plans of global firms present in the state, especially Bengaluru and assured their heads of the state support in creating hundreds of jobs and wealth.
About 100 members of the Indian delegation to the WEF, led by Union Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) director-general Chandrajit Bannerjee, Bharat Forge chairman Baba Kalyani, Kirloskar Systems Managing Director Vikram Kirloskar, also participated in the state's GIM roadshow.
State Industries Minister Jagdish Shettar, chief secretary T. M. Vijaya Bhaskar, additional chief secretary E.V. Ramana Reddy and industrial department principal secretary Gurav Gupta also attended the state event.
"Emiriti Lulu Group chairman M.A. Yusuf Ali discussed plans to invest $300 million (Rs 2,160 crore) in logistics, hospitality and health/wellness sectors across the state with Yediyurappa," said Ravikumar.
Ali, an NRI (non-resident Indian) migrated to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Kerala two decades ago and founded the Lulu Group at Abu Dhabi to operate a chain of hypermarkets and retail firms since 2000.
"The Chief Minister assured Ali of speedy approvals and incentives for investing in the state, with ease of doing business," the official said in an e-mail to IANS from the Swiss town.
Asserting that his proactive government would work overtime to facilitate global investments in the southern state, Yediyurappa said he was committed to create more jobs across sectors.
Dassault Systems executive Florene Verzelen told the chief minister about her company's plans to set up centres of excellence in smart manufacturing and smart cities in the southern state.
"The centres will train and equip the youth with skilled jobs in large corporations the world over," Ravikumar reiterated.
Yediyurappa apprised US aerospace behemoth Lockheed Martin executive Richard Ambrose of the ecosystem for aerospace and defence industry in the state, especially Bengaluru.
"I will soon visit Bengaluru to explore the possibilities of investing more in Karnataka and taking up research and development work," said Ambrose on the occasion.
A delegation from global automotive component maker Denso also called on the chief minister and interacted with the state delegation.
The Japanese firm has an excellence and research centre in New Delhi and a manufacturing unit at Nelamangala on the outskirts of Bengaluru.
Denso executive Hiroyuki Wakabasyi said he would visit Bengaluru soon to explore further investments in the state.
"Arcelor Mittal chairman Laxmi Mittal also met the chief minister and discussed his company's investment plans in the state," the official added.
Mittal backed out of setting up a steel plant in the state's northern region over a decade ago due to delays in acquiring land and mandatory approvals.
Drug maker Novo Nordisk chief executive Lars Fruergaard expressed readiness to work with the state government in taking up educative and awareness programmes for diabetic patients.
Comments
In Mangalore people are busy over fighting for animals, religion issues etc. Nobody is interested to fight for the development of city, Safety of people and corruption issues.
Standing United is the solution for all problems in mangalore.
Why blame the bus driver?
The omni driver should be taken to task for filling the car with so many children. Parents and schools do not care how children reach the school. Its because of this overloading that when accidents happen then there are maximum fatalities.
no words to say after seeing this incident. Innocent kids kills like this? Subhanallah.
Heart is crying breathlessly. May Allah bestow Jennathul Firdouse to all the kids.
So sad! May God grant those parents to over come with this grief.
Government is solely responsible for it....tax payers money is not being utilized for road broadening work...same roads and millions of vehicle added every year in to it and this is the out come. Everyday we hear some or other kind news of accident....
Please stop killing human being in roads. No value for life here in our country.Please see & follow traffic rules of UAE. Put some heavy fines
stop taking bribe. Small buses for school recently banned in UAE.
These types of acts do not fall under accident.
This is purely due to HIGH IGNORANCE, NEGLIGENCE, DISOBEDIENCE to TRAFFIC LAWS.
No sincere efforts can be seen by any Govt rulers, functionary, bureaucrats
This is worst than cure less diseases like Cancer or AIDS.
The public now should immediately make agitation that all concerned start doing stop of accidents due negligence and the same way close all liquor shops.
RTO and Traffic dept is only collecting taxes, not doing their job. If they implement existing rules and dutiful, such accidents can be avoided. Transport Minister and RTO fully responsible for the recent increase of accidents.
May God give enough patience to concerned families and rest in peace departed souls.
Heart rendering pics of angels.... Pray Almighty to give patience to the Parents / Families of the little angels who have died / injured.....RIP...
seriously i am really tired of hearing the accident news, please traffic dept must do something to stop the accidents.
Very Sad.....
Kill the Bus driver by pelting stone in the mid of the road. These drivers (Specially Express Bus Driver), they just want to reach their destination on time let anybody die in numbers and they don't even shiver
ohh god, feeling very sad,
really sad to hear the news, i just cant imagine whats going on with their parents, such a small kids they are.,
i saw some bus drivers under aged, please traffic police should verify them and cancel their licence to drive in the city.
this bus drivers think that they are the king of the road, all private bus should be banned.
This is not accident. this is called road terrorism. Over a 100 killed in Udupi district in recent days duo to the rash driving.
This reckless bus driver should be hanged to death.
Really heart-wrenching accident. heartfelt condolence to the family.
plz let us know the name of the those children?
Shocking. May god provide the families who lost the kids, the strength of bearing the pain
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