*Karnataka keen to strengthen economic ties with the Netherlands – D.K. Shivakumar
Bengaluru : In a bid to promote bilateral trade, investment, and collaboration, Karnataka Deputy CM, D.K. Shivakumar invited Dutch businesses to invest in Karnataka to strengthen ties and explore new avenues for growth. A CEO Round Table Meet was convened in the chairmanship of Mr. D.K. Shivakumar, and H.E. Mark Rutte, Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs of The Kingdom of The Netherlands, alongside a delegation of prominent Dutch businesses at Vidhana Soudha bengaluru.
Speaking at the CEO Round Table Meet, D.K. Shivakumar said “Karnataka is committed to fostering stronger economic bonds with the Netherlands as part of its broader strategy to enhance global engagement and promote economic development within the state.” The primary objective of the meet was to foster closer economic cooperation and offer Dutch companies operating in Karnataka a platform to engage in strategic discussions on matters of mutual interest, thereby promoting economic growth and investment opportunities.
Shivakumar said, “Karnataka is home to 9% of Dutch investments in India. We share many similarities across major industries like food processing, Biotech and Pharma, Innovation and R&D to name a few. The state is eager to attract Dutch investments in sectors such as AI, technology, agriculture, renewable energy, and healthcare. Karnataka is not just Bengaluru. There are several other vibrant cities in Karnataka. They are well planned and have skilled talent pool besides having similar environment like Bengaluru.The investors need to look at cities such as Mysuru, Hubli-Dharwad, Mangaluru, Davanagere, Tumakuru, Belagavi, Kalaburgi, etc. These cities are growing rapidly, and they can provide excellent opportunities for various industries including IT. Our government is ready to provide all support for industries to set up shops in areas beyond Bengaluru” he explained.
Inviting Dutch companies to Karnataka, M.B.Patil, Minister for Large and Medium Industries said “ We have envisioned a ‘Knowledge-Health-Innovation and Research City’ which is a testament to our commitment to advancing knowledge, healthcare, and innovation in Karnataka. With enhanced Ease of Doing Business, best-in-class sectoral policies such as Aerospace & Defence, E-mobility, E-R&D, ESDM, Data Centre, and Textiles, each offering attractive incentives to potential investors, we offer a conducive business environment and a skilled workforce to support Dutch investors. The government is actively working on crafting a new industrial policy and implement an effective state of the art Single Window system. The industries department has already drafted policies for the electric vehicle, warehousing and logistics sectors to develop a forward-thinking and attractive incentive package for investors” he added.
Extending a invitation to Mark Rutte, Prime Minister Netherlands, to participate in the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2023 on Nov 29th, Priyank Kharge, Minister for IT/BT and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj said “As a strong advocate for economic growth and technological advancement, we recognize the potential for Dutch expertise to complement the state’s dynamic business ecosystem. We invite the Dutch companies, renowned for their innovation and sustainability practices, to actively collaborate with the state in its journey towards becoming a global economic powerhouse and create mutual benefits for both Karnataka and the Netherlands.” He added.
The discussions at the CEO Round Table Meeting signified efforts to address critical concerns and promote industrial well-being. The Government of Karnataka welcomed the suggestions and asserted that it remains committed to facilitating a conducive environment for business and investment in the state.
