The Hindu Business Line : Sahai urges Karnataka to set up food park

Attracting investments
"There is a need to come out with tailor made policy initiatives for specific sectors depending on their importance like food processing, engineering and textiles. We also have to make concerted efforts to make our State an attractive place to invest and work, put manufacturing industry at the heart of the State's industrial strategy and growth, encourage hi-tech industry and bring out policies to allow business to create more and better jobs."

Bangalore , July 2

The Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Mr Subodh Kant Sahai, urged the Karnataka Government to set up a food park on the lines of biotech and IT parks so that its success story in IT and BT sectors could be extended to food technology.

Addressing the 29th Annual General Meeting of the Bangalore Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Friday night, Mr Sahai said, "Bangalore and Karnataka are known world over for its success in information technology, biotechnology and manufacturing. It is time now for it to replicate it in food processing sector. After learning about the Karnataka's Single Window Agency System, entrepreneurs from all over the world want to invest in Bangalore. Create a favourable atmosphere to attract foreign direct investment in Food Technology."

The outgoing BCIC President, Mr Anant R. Koppar, said the State Government should decongest Bangalore by developing counter magnets with a view to spread growth and disperse industry for the benefit of everyone in the State; prepare short-term and long-term goals to address infrastructure issue.

"In concrete terms, there is a need to come out with tailor made policy initiatives for specific sectors depending on their importance like food processing, engineering and textiles. We also have to make concerted efforts to make our State an attractive place to invest and work, put manufacturing industry at the heart of the State's industrial strategy and growth, encourage hi-tech industry and bring out policies to allow business to create more and better jobs," he said.

The Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy, whose speech was read out by the State Agriculture Minister, Mr Bandappa Kashampur, said, "Several overseas firms had expressed keen interest to invest in the State in urban transport, housing, drinking water sector to set up world class facilities."

In his keynote address, the Chairman of the Institute of Social and Economic Change, Dr S.L. Rao, said, "India is on a roll and nothing could stop it from becoming an economic power in the next 25 years." While commending IT's contribution in creating jobs, Dr Rao felt equal attention should be given to other service sectors with adequate training facilities to build a skilled talent pool.

More Stories on : Foods & Food Processing | Karnataka | Infrastructure

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