Karnataka special Assembly session from Sep 21; new global investment dept approved

Karnataka Cabinet to hold special Assembly session from Sep 21; approves Global Investment & Overseas Affairs dept

Bengaluru, Sep 3

The Cabinet also took a major decision to establish a new department for Global Investment and Overseas Affairs, aimed at facilitating foreign investments, strengthening international partnerships and collaborations, and addressing the concerns of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs).

Explaining the objective, Parameshwara said foreigners were increasingly visiting Karnataka in search of business and employment opportunities.

"The proposed department would coordinate the reception and hosting of foreign delegations, facilitate partnerships and collaborations, and promote investments in the state."

He added that foreign investors often come to Karnataka with proposals for partnerships, collaborations and investments, and there was a need for a dedicated mechanism to receive their proposals, facilitate meetings with the Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and forward them to the concerned administrative departments for necessary action.

"This particular factor is very important. The objective is to ensure that foreign investors do not have to wait without anyone attending to their proposals," Parameshwara said.

He noted that there had been instances where investors, after failing to receive an adequate response to their proposals, became disappointed and eventually moved to other states or countries to make their investments.

"To address this issue, the state government has taken this as a major decision," he said.

The new initiative will also focus on global research and development, innovation and R&D facilities, global cultural exchanges and cultural diplomacy, soft power and intangible exchanges, global sports diplomacy and collaboration, sister-city and inter-city partnerships, and global healthcare, medical and tourism initiatives.

A State Facilitation Council will be established for the purpose, with the Chief Minister Shivakumar as its Chairman and the Deputy Chief Minister Parameshwara as its Vice-Chairman.

The Council will include Ministers handling Industries, Agriculture, Horticulture, IT/Biotechnology, Urban Development, Bengaluru Development, Higher Education, Power, Health, Sports and Medical Education, among other departments.

Parameshwara said the initiative would also work towards the welfare of NRIs, facilitate employment opportunities abroad and provide coordination and support to foreign delegations and investors.

The State Cabinet also decided to withdraw its earlier decision to dismiss B. Padmanabha, a Superintending Engineer, from government service.

It gave in-principle approval for Karnataka to participate in the Centre's revised Regional Connectivity Scheme, RCS-UDAN 6.0, and approved signing an MoU in this regard.

The Cabinet also approved reconsideration of measures to improve air connectivity between Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

The state government agreed to continue its guarantee for a Rs 2,000-crore loan to be availed by the Karnataka State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank through NABARD.

The State Cabinet also approved a programme for the development of SC/ST colonies under the Kabini and Taraka reservoir projects, along with Rs 61 crore for development works in rehabilitation villages.

A Rs 115-crore project to fill 137 lakes in Byadgi and Hanagal taluks with water was also approved. In addition, the Cabinet cleared a Rs 56-crore project to lift water from the Bori River in Kalaburagi district and fill 12 lakes.

With the special Assembly session scheduled from September 21, the Kasturirangan report and the drought situation are expected to be among the key issues taken up for detailed discussion.

It can be noted that the Kasturirangan report, prepared by a high-level committee led by scientist K. Kasturirangan, proposes declaring ecologically sensitive areas in the Western Ghats and restricting activities such as mining, quarrying and certain large infrastructure projects.

Karnataka has opposed several recommendations, citing concerns over farmers, livelihoods and development in Western Ghats districts.

— IANS