Karnataka to pitch for investments at Vibrant Gujarat Summit

With an updated investment policy in place, the Karnataka Government is pitching for investments in manufacturing and aerospace at both Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and at the Vibrant Gujarat Summit.

State Minister for Higher Education and Tourism RV Deshpande is leading a delegation of industrialists and bureaucrats to Gujarat capital, where both the events are being held this year.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas meets have become a platform to the overseas Indian community to engage with the Central and State governments. ‘Vibrant Gujarat’ is an investors’ summit.

Karnataka has roped in Shekar Viswanathan, Vice-Chairman and Director of Toyota Kirloskar Motor, and Aravind Melligeri, co-founder of engineering services firm QuEST Global. Viswanathan and Melligeri will be assisted by K Ratna Prabha, Karnataka Additional Chief Secretary (Industries and Commerce), in presenting opportunities in the State.

Along with manufacturing and aerospace, the State is exploring investments in healthcare and health tourism. “Karnataka is looking for investments in tourism. We have begun to showcase a few locations for fresh investments,” said a senior government official.

Mohandas Pai, who heads the Vision Group to promote tourism in the State, and Arvind Jadav, Additional Chief Secretary (Tourism), will highlight opportunities at the State sessions.

The State government has also roped in VC Prakash, Deputy Chairman of Non Resident Indian (NRI) Forum, Karnataka, to represent the State at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

This time around, the State government has given opportunities to district chambers of commerce to showcase their regions.

The government official said, “Senior bureaucrats are joined by decision-makers representing both industry and government. Prominent industry associations in the State, including FKCCI, KASSIA, KCCI, Hubli, Mysore Chambers of Commerce, Mysore Industries Association, and Tumkur Chamber of Commerce & Industry have been accommodated.”