BENGALURU: The Karnataka govt has accelerated its efforts to promote industries beyond Bengaluru. Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge stated that the state aims to establish sector-specific clusters in various cities, such as an aerospace industry in Belagavi and fintech and animation sectors in Mangaluru. Kharge, in a letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has requested the central govt to set up a dedicated central business district modeled on the lines of Gujarat’s GIFT City.
The govt’s efforts have seen initial success with 300 companies setting up offices in smaller cities, creating 3,000 jobs. Kharge emphasized the need to change the perception that Karnataka is solely associated with Bengaluru. “If we talk about the UK, everyone will first think about London. In the same way, when we refer to Karnataka, Bengaluru will be the first city that stands out, but we are trying to change that,” he said on Friday, unveiling the details about the upcoming Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2024. The summit, which will be held from November 19 to 21, will feature over 85 sessions and 460 speakers, curated by experts from industry, research, and academia.
Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah highlighted the state’s commitment to fostering innovation, encouraging investment, and supporting sustainable growth. Karnataka has achieved a GSDP growth rate (nominal) of 14.2% in the 2022-23 financial year and contributes around 8.2% to India’s GDP. “The upcoming GCC policy of the Karnataka govt will focus on easing regulations and incentivizing large companies to set up operations in the state, especially in Beyond Bengaluru areas,” he said.
Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar emphasized the need to create a conducive environment for industrialists to go beyond Bengaluru. “Industrialists are our ambassadors. We need to create a conducive environment for them to go beyond Bengaluru so that the capital city is decongested. Karnataka has over 200 engineering and 70 medical colleges, which produce a lot of talented graduates. The state is also self-reliant in power generation. When I was the power minister in the previous Siddaramaiah govt, we had increased solar power generation from 11,000 MW to 24,000 MW during that period,” he said. He also mentioned that the Cauvery Water Management Authority has ordered Karnataka to release 1 TMC of water per day. “We had to suffer a lot due to severe drought last year, but we managed to sail through tough times. We are receiving good rains this year and hopefully, we won’t have to face any issues,” he added.
Even as Tamil Nadu is planning to set up a new airport in Hosur, Kharge suggested that reopening HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) airport could solve the problems, as the Karnataka govt has been planning to establish a second airport in Bengaluru. This statement comes amid the Tamil Nadu govt’s plans to build an airport in Hosur, which may be affected by the exclusivity clause of the Bengaluru airport, prohibiting the construction of another airport within a 130-kilometer radius until 2032. Industries Minister MB Patil had previously questioned how this clause would apply to Tamil Nadu’s plans for the Hosur airport.
