From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Mar 5: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has urged industrialists and investors to look beyond big cities like Bengaluru, Mysuru or Hubballi and spread to other parts of the State as well.
He was participating in the golden jubilee of the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) and also laid the foundation stone for its head office building at a function in Bengaluru on Sunday, March 4.
Siddaramaiah said the state government was keen to ensure the uniform development of Karnataka and provide facilities and incentives for industrialists and investors starting their ventures in backward regions.
The chief minister handsomely praised the Large and Medium Industries Minister RV Deshpande, who has ably held the portfolio for a very long tenure, and also State’s Chief Secretary Rathnaprabha, who had earlier served as the Industries Secretary and also looked after KIADB.
While Deshpande provided the leadership, the chief minister said it was Ratnaprabha who delivered the work as she was instrumental in framing the Industrial Policy and also in starting of five industrial parks for women entrepreneurs.
The chief minister said Karnataka has emerged as the hot investment destination in the entire country and moved to the top slot in 2016-17 from its 13th rank in 2013.
A huge investment of over Rs 1.54 lac crore has come to Karnataka during the last five years, he said and pointed out that special incentives and concessions were being offered for the development of the backward regions.
Siddaramaiah appreciated the contribution and track record of KIADB in helping entrepreneurs and also in preparing the necessary infrastructure facilities for setting up industries in the state. As many as 165 industrial estates have been set up in the state, he said.
Rapid industrialisation would go a long way in the development of the State as it would increase the revenue generation besides providing employment opportunities as also have spin-off effects like giving a fillip to education, health and development of roads and other infrastructure facilities, he added.
Deshpande, Rathnaprabha and other top officials attended the programme.