Bengaluru, June 29 (IANS) Karnataka plans to set up an industry-government partnership entity to promote and provide a host of services under its 'Invest Karnatak' brand, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Wednesday.
Addressing the industry captains at a centenary conference of the Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), he said the new entity would be set up for developing projects and market intelligence.
"Industrialists and government officers will be members on the company board and it will be managed by professionals," the chief minister said at the 'Karnataka -- a pioneer in Make in India, Start-up India and Digital India - Way Forward' conference.
Noting that brand 'Invest Karnataka' was not an end in itself but a beginning of a new chapter in the state as a non-profit company, Siddaramaiah said his government's development agenda was to make the sate the country's growth engine.
"Karnataka is being put on a high growth trajectory. Our focus is to ensure economic growth for each and every person in the state. Our goal is to make our state prosperous," the chief minister said.
Bengaluru is the only Indian city to be ranked among the best 20 start-up eco-systems the world over, as per the Global Startup Ecosystem ranking report 2015-16.
Karnataka is the first state in the country to announce a multi-sectoral start-up policy 2015-20 to give a boost to the start-up culture in the state.
"In this context, we have taken many steps in promoting ease of doing business across the state. Our various policies, spanning IT, textiles, agro and food processing, start-ups and tourism are complimentary to promote growth in their respective sectors," Siddaramaiah added.
State Industries Minister R.V. Deshpande said the state-run industry entity proposal would be taken to the cabinet for early approval.
The chief minister said the state government had granted Rs 10 crore for building a centenary auditorium in the city.
Calling for dispersing industries across the state to decongest a crowded Bengaluru, Deshpande urged the industry and trade captains to invest in cities like Mysuru, Belgavi, Kalburgi, Yadgir and Hubballi-Dharwad.
"In Tumakuru, Kolar and Chikkballapur, the infrastructure is good and land cost less compared with Bengaluru," he said.
