K'taka CM woos firms to GIM at Dalian

Chief minister Siddaramaiah, now on a visit to the World Economic Forum (WEF), appears to be pulling out all stops to attract businesses to the state at a time when there has been a dramatic slowdown of investment inflows into the state.

The Annual Meeting of the New Champions is the biggest global business gathering in Asia. Also known as the 'Summer Davos', the meeting, held from September 11-13, is an opportunity for exchange between leaders from top-ranked global corporations and chief executive officers of dynamic and fast-growing companies, including key decision-makers from government, media, academia and civil society.

Be it high-tech industries, education, infrastructure or energy, the CM made a pitch for investments into all of the sectors here in Karnataka. At the same time he did not let go of a chance to promote Karnataka's Global Investors' Meet (GIM). But the CM did not forget the issue of food security at the event.

The plenary session on the topic of the 'Food Security Imperative' held at the WEF saw the CM speak of food security which he said was close to his heart. Soon after assuming office of CM, he took six important decisions including providing 30 kg of foodgrains to people below the poverty line at a subsidised price of Re 1 per kg, which was the first and most important decision. In order to meet the increasing demand for foodgrains, expected to be about 300 million tonnes by 2020, there is a need to step up production and in that direction, the 'Best practices in Agriculture' such as micro-irrigation, watershed management, use of information technology and integrated farming systems are being pursued, he added.

At a time when many an Indian company that is into wind energy-related businesses is struggling to stay afloat or exiting the business, the CM didn't seem to want to waste the wind energy potential of the state, about 11,000 Mw. He held discussions with firms that are giants in the wind energy business such as Sinovel Wind Group Company Ltd, that is headquartered in Beijing.

"It is China's first specialised hightech enterprise that has independently developed, designed, manufactured & marketed large scale on shore, off shore and inter tidal series of wind turbines adaptable to a global variety of wind resources and environmental conditions," according to the company. Sinovel has been growing by leaps and bounds in 2008 with the newly-installed wind power capacity of 1,403Mw and it is top ranked company in China. The company manufactures gear boxes Wind Turbines of capacity ranging from 1 Mw to 6 Mw.

Siddaramaiah did not let go of a chance to secure the best of Japanese technologies. He met Hakubun Shimomura, Minister for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan wind explored the possibilities of getting support of Japan for high speed rail, infrastructure corridors among others. "Both Karnataka and Japan being in the forefront of information technology, partnership to promote this sector was discussed," he said. The delegation explained the various investment opportunities available in many of the sectors and also highlighted the incentives and concessions from the state government.

The CM also met Avi Hasson, Chief Scientist, Director - R&D Administration, Ministry of Economy, Israel, seemingly aimed at strengthening the relationship. Karnataka has entered into an MoU with Matimop, R&D Agency of Government of Israel for promotion of sharing of Knowledge and Technology, seemingly aimed at making the best use of the technological capabilities of Israel.