Bengaluru, NFAPost: Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwatha Narayana inaugurated the office of Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) at HSR Layout in Bengaluru, a public-private partnership initiative of the state government and ITES Industry with 49:51 shareholding pattern formed to increase digital economy contribution to GSDP to 30%. The event also launched the ‘Beyond Bengaluru’ report which facilitates to achieve this target.
Delivering his inaugural address, Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwatha Narayana, who also holds Electronics, IT/BT, and S&T portfolio said the government wanted KDEM to be more industry friendly and keeping this in mind it has allowed for 51% stakes to Industry associations while retaining a minority holding of 49% for itself.
“The government wants to act rather as a facilitator than an authority. In order to strengthen the digital economy, the government will focus on improving connectivity even to remote parts, providing 24/7 electricity, and reducing the rural-urban divide by establishing needed infrastructure,” said the Minister.
The facility is owned by KEONICS and built with a total investment of Rs 32 crore on 78,000 square feet land with a build-up area of 48,000 square feet. It has 4 floors+terrace (cafeteria) and 2 basement for parking. The ground floor of the building has 100 seater conference hall, 25 seater capacity board room and four small conference rooms.
The first floor of the building will house KDEM office and a conference hall of 25 seater capacity and 8 other rooms. The second floor has 8000 square feet workspace with 100 seater capcity. Third floor is dedicated for Internt of Things lab supported by Karnataka government and funded by Nasscom. Fourth floor accommodates workspace cabins.
The government has allotted 51% state in KDEM to industry partner associations like NASSCOM, The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), India Electronics & Semiconductor Association (IESA) and Vision Group on Startups.
Ashwatha Narayana also pointed out that currently, the industry sector is not showing interest to take up students for internships. “But this needs to be changed and they should be encouraged to undergo internship as youth is the future of the country and talent needs to be nurtured,” he said.
The Minister said KDEM aims to attract investments for the IT/ITeS sector in the state and to create 10 lakh jobs by 2025. “It works to achieve the target by focusing on 5 verticals of IT products & services, Innovation & Startups, Electronic System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM), ‘Beyond Bengaluru’, and ‘Talent Accelerator,” he said.
He expressed confidence that KDEM would help Karnataka to reach the goal of $150 billon in IT exports and also to become a $300 billion economy by 2025.
Department of Electronics, IT/BT and S&T Additional Chief Secretary E V Ramana Reddy said the contribution of IT sector at present to the GSDP is 25% and in this Bengaluru alone accounts for nearly 98%.
“Keeping this in view and to increase the contribution of other regions, the ‘Beyond Bengaluru’ project has been initiated. By the time when India aims to become a trillion-dollar economy in the coming five years, the contribution of ‘Beyond Bengaluru’ should be in a position to contribute 10% to GSDP,” said E V Ramana Reddy.
Karnataka Vision Group of Startups Chairman Prashanth Prakash said KDM would act as a bridge between industry-academia- government and helps to frame appropriate policies, strategies and to make the state a digital research hub.
KDEM Chairman B V Naidu said that the clusters of Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi/Dharawada, Kalaburgi, Shivamogga, and Tumakuru have the potential to contribute to strengthening the digital economy.
NASSCOM Vice President Vishwanath, KDEM member Nagesh and Department of Electronics and IT/BT MD Meena Nagaraj were present at the function
