Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Sept 24: Karnataka IT/BT and Rural Development Minister Priyank Kharge has outlined an ambitious roadmap to transform Mangaluru into a major coastal technology and innovation hub, dubbing it the potential ‘Silicon Beach City’ of India.
Backed by new infrastructure projects, a proposed mega tech park, and cluster-based innovation funding, the move aims to decentralise Karnataka’s tech growth beyond Bengaluru and energise local entrepreneurship, especially in the blue economy.
Kharge was speaking at two separate events in Mangaluru on Wednesday: a press conference at the Zilla Panchayat office, and the fifth edition of Mangaluru Technovanza 2025, organised by the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) under the "Beyond Bengaluru" initiative at T M A Pai Convention Centre.
Mega Tech Park proposal set for Cabinet approval
Kharge announced that a proposal for Mangaluru’s largest technology park will be placed before the State Cabinet either tomorrow or within the next week. The facility is planned on 3.25 acres, with a built-up area of 3.5 lac sq ft and a working capacity for 3,500 professionals.
The tech park will serve as a central infrastructure node for the Mangaluru–Udupi–Manipal innovation cluster, one of six such clusters identified under a Rs 1,000 crore State initiative supporting startups and research. An initial amount of Rs 250 crore has already been released, Kharge confirmed.
He urged local educational and industrial stakeholders to hold consultations and submit a detailed list of regional requirements within a month, so that government interventions can be aligned with local needs.
Mangaluru’s rising economic profile
Highlighting Mangaluru’s growing contribution to Karnataka’s economy, Kharge noted that while Bengaluru accounts for 40% of the State’s GDP, Mangaluru stands second with a 5.4% share. By contrast, Kalaburagi contributes 1.9%.
The Minister said Mangaluru’s ecosystem holds high potential for entrepreneurial and blue economy-led economic activity, and pledged to provide the necessary infrastructure to support this transformation.
He added that of the 400 startups registered across Karnataka, 81 are based in the Mangaluru–Udupi–Manipal region, of which 30 are women-led startups. The region recorded ?3,500 crore in IT exports last year, and the State aims to double this figure, while ensuring that local human resources are retained through job creation and entrepreneurship.
Blue economy and marine tech in focus
Kharge stressed that Mangaluru’s coastal and marine ecosystem makes it an ideal hub for blue economy ventures. The government is encouraging startups to develop solutions for challenges related to marine life, aquaculture, and ocean sustainability, and has promised incentives for companies working on these fronts.
The minister also noted that efforts are underway to promote Kalaburagi as an agri-tech hub, while Mangaluru will be positioned for maritime and blue economy initiatives, as part of a broader cluster-based development model.
GCC expansion, AI Innovation Fund announced
At Technovanza 2025, Kharge elaborated on Karnataka’s plans to attract 500 new Global Capability Centres (GCCs) by 2029, nearly doubling the current number, with the aim of creating 3.5 lac jobs across the State.
He also committed to supporting an Elevate AI 100 initiative, proposed by former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai, on the lines of the earlier "Elevate 100 Startup" programme. The minister pledged Rs 5 crore for the fund and challenged Pai to bring in the top 25 venture capital firms across India to collectively raise another ?5 crore.
A dedicated ‘Future Makers’ session at the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025 (scheduled for November 18–20) will feature the launch of this fund and the announcement of selected startups.
Data centre and energy security plans in pipeline
Responding to a suggestion by KDEM Chairman B V Naidu regarding the establishment of a GIFT City-like financial hub and a data centre in Mangaluru, Kharge revealed that a previous proposal was turned down by the Centre, which maintains that only one GIFT City-like hub can exist in India.
However, Kharge encouraged all Karnataka MPs to press the finance minister and the prime minister for reconsideration, saying the concept fits Mangaluru’s ecosystem, especially given its volume of remittances and connectivity.
He added that Mangaluru is already being explored as a data centre location, and a proposal has been submitted to the Department of Energy to prepare an industry-specific energy plan. A blueprint ensuring energy and water security for such centres is expected by the next State budget session.
Critical of Centre’s inaction on NRI tax relief
In response to a media query regarding the impact of recent US tax policies on NRIs, Kharge expressed concern about the lack of response from the Union Government. He said the current scenario—where 50% taxation applies to Indian workers in the US, and H-1B visa holders are being targeted—demands serious policy intervention from the Centre.
Kharge criticised the Modi-led government, saying, “Our prime minister held events like ‘Namaste Trump’ and gave slogans like ‘Ab ki baar, Trump sarkar’, yet failed to safeguard the interests of Indian professionals.
Meanwhile, countries like China have planned strategies to reintegrate returning talent and use research for national growth. Why hasn’t India done the same?”
He added that while Karnataka is building a favourable ecosystem for startups, Central support is crucial to ensure sustained and inclusive growth across regions.