Karnataka to set up IT Parks in tier II cities

Source: http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=97916

BANGALORE October 21, 2008: Karnataka Government has now decided to set up Information Technology (IT) parks in second tier cities such as Shimoga, Gulbarga, Belgaum, Mysore, Mangalore and Hubli-Dharwad to attract investment both domestic and foreign in the software sector.

Minister for IT/BT Katta Subramanya Naidu told journalists on Tuesday that a decision has been taken to set up the IT Park near the Bangalore International Airport Limited, Devanahalli.

BJP Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa will conduct Bhoomi pooja for IT parks in Shimoga, Gulbarga, Belgaum, Mangalore and Hubli-Dharwad in November. The foundation stones will be laid for IT parks in Myore and Bangalore in December, he said.

The government has already set up IT parks in Mangalore, Hubli and other parts of the State. There was no space for IT firms in the existing park at Hubli and Mangalore, he said.

The Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (KEONICS) would build IT parks in the next 20 months. The IT Park at Devanahalli would be developed on public-private partnership (PPP) model by Jain Heigts, a city-based software company at a cost around Rs. 80 crore. The Karnataka Industrial Development Board would acquire land from farmers, he said.

The Government has also decided to establish an IT/BT Authority soon. The authority will only handle proposal of IT/BT companies. A Bill would be placed before the coming session of the legislature, Mr. Naidu said.

Bangalore IT.biz 2008, an annual exhibition will be held for three days from November 6 at the Palace Grounds in the City, he said.

Mr. Naidu, who is also the Minister for Excise, said the government has decided to come out with a new licensing policy for opening of liquor shops (CL-2) and bar and restaurants (CL-9) in rural areas. A committee has been set up to draft the policy, he said

Demand for land by IT firms in Hubli-Dharwad increasing

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/10/stories/2008091053260300.htm

HUBLI: Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Dharwad district in-charge Murugeh Nirani has said that a major portion of about 500 acres of land to be acquired around Gamanagatti near Navanagar, Hubli, will be reserved for information technology (IT) companies.

He was addressing a gathering after performing the “bhoomi puja” for development of Aryabhata Tech Park at Navanagar, between Hubli and Dharwad, on Tuesday.
Mr. Nirani said that the 26 acres of land allotted to IT and information technology-enabled services (ITES) companies at the tech park was inadequate and there was demand for more land by many IT companies that were willing to invest in Hubli and Dharwad.

The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board had started acquiring 500 acres of land around Gamanagatti, he said and added that depending on the demand a major portion of the land would be reserved for IT companies.

The Minister said that the State Government had plans to establish industrial estates on about 2,000 acres of land around the twin cities and the process had been initiated.
Mr. Nirani said that during the convention of the Association of Kannada Kootas of America in the U.S., he held 12 business meetings at 12 different places and invited non-residential Indians to invest in Karnataka.

“I met nearly 800 entrepreneurs and industrialists and most of them evinced interest in investing in Karnataka and agreed to participate in the global industrial investors’ meet to be held in Bangalore in January next,” he said.

He said efforts would be made to prevail upon entrepreneurs to invest in north Karnataka.
“The Government is also contemplating on setting up separate special economic zone (SEZ) for the IT sector in the State,” he said.

NOCs

Referring to the problem being faced by the IT and ITES companies that had been allotted land at the tech park in getting financial assistance from banks and other financial agencies, the Minister assured them that steps would be taken to issue no objection certificates (NOCs) to the companies from the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) within a week.

Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar underscored the need for holding an investors’ meet in Hubli to attract entrepreneurs to north Karnataka and providing more land to IT and ITES companies for development of the IT sector in the region.

MP Pralhad Joshi spoke. Mayor Radhabai Sapare presided over the function.

Chairman of the IT Land Allotment Committee Madan Desai and president of the Small Scale Industries Association Sridhar Pujar spoke. Deputy Mayor Chandrashekhar Managundi, MLC Mohan Limbikai, HDMC councillors Hazarat Ali Dodmani and Shantappa Devakki, Deputy Commissioner Darpan Jain and HDMC Commissioner Ajay Nagabhushan were among those present.

US industrialists to invest in Karnataka

Source: http://www.sahilonline.org/english/news.php?catID=statenews&nid=3315&viewed=0

Hubli: American industrialists have shown interest in investing in medical, solar and IT field in Karnataka, Minister incharge of Dharwad district Murugesh Nirani said today.Addressing a press conference here during his official visit to participate in a programme of the BJP government, he said about Rs four lakh crore was expected to flow in the state in the coming years.

This promise was made to a team of ministers from the state during their visit to the United States, Mr Nirani said.The team met more than 800 investors in the US, who showed keen interest to invest in various industries in Karnataka, he added. The State government had decided to hold investors' meet in Bangalore in January to attract more number of investors. Similarly, another meet would be organised in Hubli and Dharwad, he added.Claiming that BJP government in the state had met the expectations of the people, Mr Nirani said most of the promises made were set in motion for implementation.

Many developmental projects were also taken up in north Karnataka, he said, adding that the overnment was keen on developing IT park in Hubli and Aryabhata IT project.He said many more programmes would be implemented for the welfare of the people in the coming years.