Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Sep 4: In a move aimed at giving Karnataka’s engagement with non-resident Indians (NRIs), foreign investors and global organisations a sharper institutional focus, the state government has approved a separate department for global investment and overseas affairs.

The decision to establish the ‘Department of Global Investment and Overseas Affairs’ was taken at the Cabinet meeting held on Thursday.

The new department will have a separate secretariat and minister. For now, however, it will function under the supervision of the chief minister.

A single-window system will be created to address various NRI-related requirements, including their affairs and welfare, under one roof. NRIs will also be issued a special card through which they can access various government services and assistance. The system is expected to be particularly useful for accessing opportunities such as employment abroad.

The government will also establish a mechanism to directly receive investment and partnership proposals from foreign investors and delegations visiting Karnataka.

The chief minister will meet such delegations and receive their proposals, which will then be forwarded to the concerned administrative departments for necessary action.

Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, deputy chief minister Dr G Parameshwara said the move was intended to ensure that investors did not have to wait for a response from the government or look towards other states for investment opportunities.

Foreign investors seeking partnerships, collaboration or investment can directly meet the Chief Minister and present their proposals, he said. The proposals will subsequently be sent to the concerned departments for further action.

The new system will cover a wide range of areas, including global research and development, start-ups, cultural exchange, soft power, sports diplomacy, twin-city partnerships, healthcare, medical services and tourism, among others.

State Facilitation Board to be formed

A State Facilitation Board will also be constituted with the chief minister as chairman and the deputy chief Minister as vice-chairman.

Ministers handling the Industries, Agriculture, Horticulture, IT-BT, Urban Development, Bengaluru Development, Higher Education, Energy, Health, Sports and Medical Education departments will serve as members of the board.

Parameshwara said the Cabinet had held an extensive discussion on the proposal before approving it. Several aspects, including its impact on industries and various government departments, were examined before the decision was taken.

The proposed Facilitation Department will primarily function as a co-ordination and liaison mechanism. When an investor approaches the government with a proposal concerning a particular sector, the department will facilitate a meeting with the Chief Minister, if required, and subsequently forward the proposal to the concerned department for further action.

10-member Group of Ministers gets Cabinet nod

The Cabinet has also approved the formation of a 10-member Group of Ministers (GoM) in Karnataka, on the lines of the system followed by the Union government, with the chief minister as chairman.

Major decisions will be discussed by the GoM before being placed before the Cabinet for consideration.

Deputy chief minister Dr G Parameshwara and ministers K H Muniyappa, K J George, Priyank Kharge, Krishna Byre Gowda, Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah, U T Khader, Laxman Savadi, Satish Jarkiholi and M B Patil will be members of the Group of Ministers.

Eight named as government spokespersons

The government has also decided to appoint spokespersons to issue official statements on its behalf.

Deputy chief minister Dr G Parameshwara, along with ministers Krishna Byre Gowda, Priyank Kharge, Santhosh Lad, U T Khader, Eshwar Khandre, H C Balakrishna and Laxman Savadi, will serve as government spokespersons.