Bangalore, NFAPost: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai would showcase the tech-savvy southern state at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forumn (WEF), which began at the Swiss ski resort town Davos in Switzerland on Sunday evening to attract investments from global firms in diverse sectors.
“Bommai left Bangalore for Davos on early Sunday with a delegation, including state Industries Minister Murgesh Nirani and additional chief secretary in the industries department E.V. Ramana Reddy and other senior officials,” an official told NFAPOST here.
State IT/BT, Science and Technology and Higher Education Minister C N Ashwath Narayan, who is currently in Britain on an official visit, will join the state delegation at Davos and participate in the event.
The 5-day high-profile summit of global leaders is being held from May 22-26, 2022 in physical format after two years (2020 and 2021) when it was held virtual due to Covid pandemic-induced restrictions, worldwide.
In a tweet ahead of his departure to Zurich via Dubai, the Chief Minister said: “All set to participate in WEF summit at Davos. Will interact with business heads of 18 countries on important economic and environmental issues. Davos will give impetus to the upcoming #InvestKarnataka2022 Global Investors’ Meet in November.”
As economic and industrial policies of India and Karnataka are the country’s strength, Bommai said environment and ecosystem would be presented at the event. “As economy and ecology go hand in hand, they would be highlighted at the summit,” he said.
Noting that Karnataka accounted for 38% ($37.8 billion) of the $83.57 billion Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the last fiscal (2021-22), Bommai said the state ranked number 1 in attracting investments from the world over.
“Our delegation will meet world leaders and CXOs to pitch for investments into the state. Many overseas and Indian industries are keen on investing in our state,” Bommai told reporters here on Sunday before leaving for Davos.
This is Bommai’s maiden foreign trip as Chief Minister after he assumed the executive office in July last year.
Ruling party’s (BJP) former state chief minister B S Yeddyurappa attended the Davos summit in January 2020 and affirmed that Karnataka was a preferred destination for national and overseas investments to create jobs.
The state government hopes to sign a few agreements during the event with overseas investors and firms in services and manufacturing sectors.
“Our state attracted highest share of the FDI (53 per cent) in computer hardware and software sectors, followed by Delhi and Maharashtra, with 17 per cent of the overseas inflow,” Bommai reiterated.
Assuring overseas investors infrastructure, single-window clearance and incentives for investing in the state, the Chief Minister said all-out efforts were being made for ease of doing business across the state.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is leading the strong India delegation to the WEF, the Geneva-based global organisation, which flags a slew of global issues.
Union Minister for Health, Chemicals and Fertilisers Mansukhlal Mandaviya, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri and chief ministers/senior ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tami Nadu and Telangana are part of the Indian delegation.
Among captains of industry and India Inc, Bharat Enterprises Sunil Mittal, Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, Adani group founder and chairman Gautam Adani, Aditya Birla group chairman Kumarangalam Birla, HCL Technologies chairperson Roshni Nadar Malhotra and Hero Group chief executive Pawan Munjal are part of the delegation on behalf of India Inc.
“The mega event will reinforce the country’s position as an important and key stakeholder in shaping the global narrative, as India assumes the presidency of the G-20 in 2023,” an official statement said.
“The WEF will also be a platform to project India as an attractive investment destination in view of its robust economic growth and stable macro-economic indicators,” said the statement.
Sessions will be held at the India Lounge keeping in mind the country’s strategic advantage, existing and upcoming incentive architecture, industry investment potential and market opportunity./Eom/675 words./01:25am.
