May 11: The Karnataka government appears set to roll out red carpet welcome to foreign companies seeking to move out of China.
The State's Large and Medium Scale Industries Minister Jagadish Shettar said the Government plans to constitute a task force, under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar, to spearhead the drive to attract such investment. A proposal to this effect has been sent to the Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa for approval, the Minister told PTI in an interview.
This panel would take feedback and suggestions from a consultative committee to be formed with prominent industrialists from the State and representatives of various countries located here, Shettar said.
In recent days, the Minister held consultations with industrialists such as co-founder and Non-Executive Chairman of Infosys Ltd, Nandan M Nilekani, Executive Chairperson of Biocon Ltd, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Chairman of early-stage startup accelerator and venture fund Axilor Ventures Senapathy (Kris) Gopalakrishnan to fine-tune the States outreach push.
Shettar also held interactions with industry bodies, including Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) and Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (KASSIA).
Industrialists who took part in the deliberations suggested to the government to focus on ease of doing business and improving the single window clearance system for approvals, as the Minister spelt out government's intent of further improving the investment climate to attract industries to Karnataka.
To boost the industry sentiment in the State, they also stressed the need on easing land acquisition regulations, and leveraging the knowledge base of Bengaluru to promote technology-based manufacturing.
"Given the interest shown by some companies in moving their manufacturing bases out of China, the industry leaders recommended that the State government identify a target list of 100 firms to reach out to for attracting to the State, and work out a strategy to bring them to Karnataka," an Industry department official said.
The industry leaders assured cooperation from the private sector in reaching out to and facilitating interactions with CEOs of these companies.
Shettar said restrictions on acquisition of agriculture land for starting industries have now been relaxed with the passage of an amendment to the land reforms act in the recent Legislature session.
This would facilitate immediate land allotment to industries, he added.
The Minister has also submitted a proposal to the Chief Minister on relaxing labour laws.
Secretary General of industry body ASSOCHAM, Deepak Sood, told news agency recently that there is a broader consensus that the global manufacturing supply chain would be more spread than concentrated in major economies like China.
"If India comes out of the present crisis with minimum of impact, we can be the destination of choice for the global manufacturing giants in different sectors like electronics, computer hardware, pharmaceuticals, including medical devices, automobile, including components and other engineering products," Sood had said.
Gopalakrishnan, also co-founder of Infosys and former CII President, said India has to target companies which have operations in China, reach out to them, understand what their needs are and hold discussions with them.
"We have to make sure that their requirements are addressed, be it with regard to land, office space, faster approvals, and some concessions on local taxes. It depends on the businesses that the companies are in, and if we are able to respond to those requests, I think we will be able to attract them", he told news agency.
"All states will compete for this business (foreign investment)," Gopalakrishnan added.
The activists of Nagarika Horata Samiti, Kana who were staging a protest at Kana junction demanding the immediate repair of the 4.5-km stretch started raising slogans against Mr Bava after he passed through the same junction.
Comments
@ Saboor,
Of course ppl will not forget if he did any good work at all..and ppl will not forget if he did'nt listen to them..so its vice-versa. He may have done good work in other places but if you are really from kana pls let me know one good
Dear Ansari,
What you think about Moidin, and What leasson will teach in 2018 election. people will not forget what good work he did for his constitution. He did lots of job for public in Surathkal - Kana area.
So keep quiet in political field you don't know politics.
Dear All,
Mr. Bawa came not for enjoying purpose. He came to Riyadh to participate in Beary Sangama Programme. After return to Mangalore he will finish the work pending in Surathkkal. So no one should worry about that.
He is a gentleman. Not like Palemar...
Ms. Vidya, why Palemar was watching blue films in assembly if he is good....he should have utilized his time in assembly for the progress of people of our constituency....they are all disaster....and same....
welcome to Riyadh ;)
People of this constitute will teach good lesson at 2018 election.
We appreciate Coastal Digest for bringing all political leaders issue without any partiality or any group wise like other chaddi paper of rss member.
Keep it up Coastal Digest
Jai Hind
Hahaha. I wholeheartedly congratulate Coastaldigest.com team for bringing this issue to light. Keep it up. expose more bearys and stop peeping into RSS chaddi.
# Vidya, If Palemar was better how he lost last election? Surathkal people will decide what to do and what not to do. Take care yourself at Dubai instead of nose in to non related matters by sitting in Dubai.
He is good for photo ops!!
Do we really need this kind of politicians? Palemar was million times better than him. Hope people of his constituency will teach him a good lesson in 2018.
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