The Karnataka government is in the process of acquiring 100,000 acres of non-farm land for industrial development mainly in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities in two phases, of 50,000 acres each. Of this, the government has already issued the final notification for 30,000 acres and a preliminary notification for another 20,000 acres, Murugesh R Nirani, minister for large and medium industries, said.
Addressing the Founder’s Day celebrations of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FKCCI), here today, he said the land is being acquired ahead of the proposed Global Investors’ Meet (GIM) held during January 11 and January 12, 2010 in Bangalore. The government plans to keep the land ready in hand before seeking any investment proposals from global investors, he said.
Later, talking to reporters, Nirani said the state government is aiming at attracting at least Rs 200,000 crore during the forthcoming global investors meet. The state is projecting mainly secondary cities as Bangalore has reached a point of saturation in terms of the availability of land. The main focus of the government is to attract investment in the areas of iron and steel, cement, food processing, textiles, IT and ITeS, automobile among others, he said.
Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa had recently visited China to invite investors from that country to participate in the global investors meet. In the next few days, he said he will visit Dubai to invite industrialists from the UAE to the GIM. The government will unveil the logo of the GIM and a curtain raiser tomorrow, he said.
Sajjan Jindal, vice chairman and managing director, JSW Steel Limited, who received Sir M Visvesvaraya Memorial Award instituted by FKCCI, said the Jindal group has been the single largest investor in Karnataka with an estimated investment of Rs 21,700 crore. He hailed Karnataka as the most investor-friendly state in the country and promised the state government that he would fully support the forthcoming global investors’ meet. “Karnataka state provides the best environment for industries,” he said.
Governor H R Bharadwaj delivered the Visvesvaraya Memorial Lecture on the occasion. J Crasta, president, FKCCI said to honour the birth anniversary of their founder, Sir M Visvesvaraya, the chamber has instituted the annual Visvesvaraya memorial award to recognise and acknowledge the outstanding efforts of distinguished industrialists who have contributed to the social and economic development of the state.
