From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Davos (Switzerland), Jan 17: Karnataka has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with investment proposals worth Rs 22,000 crore with 7 leading companies on Day 2 of the annual World Economic Forum Summit in Davos.
The details of the MoUs inked by State’s delegation headed by Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil has proposals from Microsoft signed on working towards skilling and governance initiatives; Web Werks for setting up data centre park worth Rs 20,000 crore; Hitachi on economic development through work in rural sector, healthcare, education and Panchayat E-Governance for creating opportunities for people of Karnataka.
These partnerships are poised to propel the state into a new era of technological advancement, infrastructure development and economic growth of the state.
Hitachi plans to start with M-Star Telemedicine Deployment through Hitachi MGRM Net.
Additionally, four other companies have entered into MOUs with the Karnataka Government, collectively valued at over Rs 2,000 crore.
Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development M B Patil held talks with heads of Volvo group, Nestle, Sony, Inox Group, HP, Lulu Group, Honeywell, Takeda Pharma, Coinbase, BL Agro, Till Man Global and more.
The minister also held discussions with Sony, HP, Nestle, Honeywell, Lulu group, Inox Group, Takeda Pharma, Coinbase, Tillman Global, BL Agro, and many others.
The primary objective is to establish cutting-edge infrastructure, capitalizing on the robust existing ecosystem and the highly attractive market dynamics in the region. He also assured them of the government’s complete support and co-operation in their future ventures in Karnataka.
Microsoft
The MoU between the Government of Karnataka and Microsoft outlines a digital skilling initiative aimed at enhancing livelihood opportunities for under-served youth in India, with a focus on young girls/women, job seekers, individuals with disabilities, nano entrepreneurs, and those in regions with low workforce participation, aspirational districts, remote, and tribal areas.
Microsoft's digital skilling programme, named Microsoft RISE, will provide 70 hours of virtual instructor-led training on digital productivity, employability, entrepreneurship, and communication skills through its nonprofit partner AISECT.
The participants will also have access to the Microsoft Training Platform (MCT), offering over 150 additional hours of skilling content. The project outcomes include co-branded certificates, access to advanced tech skilling programs, opportunities in cloud, AI, and cyber security careers, participation in the Future Ready Internship Programme and empowerment of trainers and skill development centres.
The partnership involves Microsoft, AISECT, and possibly a state skill development corporation, with Microsoft providing monetary support and content, AISECT delivering training, and KUM (Karnataka Skill Development Corporation) generating the audience, integrating offerings, and co-certifying learners.
The collaboration will be formally announced through a joint press release to raise awareness about the project's benefits for underserved youth.
Honeywell:
Honeywell is keen to collaborate with Karnataka, utilizing a variety of sensors and an IoT stack for diverse applications. These applications extend to citizen services such as traffic management, and monitoring government operational services like waste management, among others.
Lulu Group
The Lulu Group is set to venture into food processing in the Gulbarga district, with plans to invest Rs 300 crore in a food processing plant dedicated to exports. Renowned as the largest retailer in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and Kuwait, and the second largest in the UAE, the group currently dominates the retail and food processing sectors, specializing in fruits and vegetables.
Presently boasting a vast footprint of over 250 malls, the Lulu Group sources a substantial quantity of fruits and vegetables, including eggplant, okra, guava (both white and pink varieties), chickoo, capsicum, and chilies, amounting to over 200 tons monthly from Karnataka. Looking ahead, the Lulu Group plans to enhance its export capacity by focusing on the northern Karnataka region.
Takeda Pharma
Takeda is embarking on a digital transformation journey, intending to establish Global Innovation Center in Bengaluru and actively scouting for suitable campus locations. The company has recently disclosed plans to create 1000 high-profile digital roles in its first center.
Recognizing the significance of establishing a strong brand presence in India, Takeda places emphasis on diversity and inclusion (D&I), with the assurance of full support from Karnataka. The state offers valuable connections in medical research and biotechnology, aligning with Takeda's goals.
Further collaboration opportunities arise as local academic institutions and organizations like CCAMP and the Bio innovation cluster can partner with Takeda Digital Ventures to collectively develop innovative digital health solutions.
BL Agro
The 50-year-old company BL Agro, headquartered in Uttar Pradesh, shared comprehensive plans during their recent meeting, emphasizing its diverse focus on Agritech, Agri fintech, export, and sourcing.
With a strategic vision to expand its footprint, Karnataka emerges as a pivotal state in South India for BL Agro. The company is keen on developing sourcing activities in South India, while also considering the establishment of a primary food processing unit.
Notably, BL Agro aims to install sorting, grading, and processing plants in Northern Karnataka, with Vijayapura identified as a strategic location possessing essential infrastructure in terms of land, water, power, and export orientation.
Webwerks
Nikhil Rathi, founder & CEO of Web Werks Data Centers, Webwerks, boasting data centers close to GW scale, discussed significant developments and plans for setting up Data Centre of 100 MW in Bengaluru.
Additionally, Webwerks expressed its ambition to establish a cutting-edge connectivity hub, featuring state-of-the-art hyper-scaler data centers in Bengaluru. The government is anticipated to collaborate closely with Webwerks to facilitate their Data Centre setup and operations in Karnataka
Karnataka will closely work with Web Werks and try to provide all the necessary support in grounding the investment quickly in the state.
HP
Karnataka's robust ecosystem, led by Bengaluru hosting 34% of India's Global Capability Centers, presents significant collaboration potential with HP Inc. Our focus is on skilling initiatives and Industry 5.0, backed by a competitive labor cost, 1,777 ITIs, and a Modular Employability Scheme.
With over 400 MNCs and 35% of GICs, Karnataka is an innovation hub. Explore opportunities here, benefiting from our growth-oriented environment and progressive policies. Benefit from our state's extensive network of 800 vocational training providers offering 500 courses. Karnataka's technological prowess and world-class facilities make it an ideal destination for HP Inc's innovation and growth.
Inox
Siddharth Jain, the MD of INOX Group, Inox Air Products is actively considering expansion into Karnataka, a strategic move aligning with the company's growth objectives. Notably, Jain, the driving force behind Inox Air Products, concurrently oversees the successful operations of Inox movie cinemas.
This dual role presents a unique synergy as Bengaluru, the capital city of Karnataka, stands out for hosting the highest number of language movies screened, exemplifying the rich cultural and linguistic diversity inherent in the city.
The potential venture in Karnataka, with its vibrant cinematic landscape, offers Inox Air Products an opportunity to contribute to and thrive in a market that embraces and celebrates cultural multiplicity.
Inox has already filed an application for setting up Industrial Gas manufacturing facility worth Rs 150 crore to supply to Electronics Manufacturers in the region of North Bengaluru.
Sony
Dr. Hiroaki Kitano, CEO of Sony AI Inc., EVP and Officer in charge for AI Collaboration for Sony Corporation, CEO of Sony Computer Science Laboratories.
In an ambitious move, the Research and Development (R&D) division, focused on agriculture, climate, and AI research, is set to fortify its operations in Bengaluru, currently staffed with 200 experts.
The ongoing endeavors include groundbreaking work in GenAI and collaborations with innovative startups. The expansion strategy involves the recruitment of top-tier AI talent and researchers, fostering organic growth alongside the addition of 30 professionals specializing in AI/ML.
Hiroaki Kitano recognizes India as a technological powerhouse and expresses a commitment to supporting the return of Indian-origin PhD students, emphasizing the importance of academic pedigree.
Additionally, Kitano expresses keen interest in collaborating with the Gaming Center of Excellence planned by the ITBT department, recognizing the immense potential in such partnerships. Furthermore, there are plans to establish a GPU cluster, leveraging the expertise of premier institutions like IISc and IIT, outlining a comprehensive vision for substantial progress in the outlined research domains.
Hitachi
Alistair Dormer, Chair of the Board, Hitachi Energy holds Karnataka in high regard, particularly for its substantial role in modernizing 40% of India's railways.
The company envisions India as a key contributor to its global manufacturing strategy, emphasizing a "make for India by India" approach. With plans to expand its energy business, Hitachi has established its headquarters in Bengaluru and is listed in Indian markets, boasting a market capitalization of $3.5 billion.
The company's recent foray into the power sector and its significant presence in manufacturing 35% of ATM machines highlight its diverse portfolio tailored to the Indian market.
Hitachi is also making strides in renewable energy and exploring quantum computing applications to substitute rare earth metals in the conversion of electrical energy to mechanical energy, showcasing its commitment to innovative and sustainable solutions in India.
Hitachi signed MOU with Karnataka on economic development through work in rural sector, healthcare, education and Panchayat E-Governance for creating opportunities for people of Karnataka. Hitachi plans to start with M-Star Telemedicine Deployment through Hitachi MGRM Net.
Volvo Group
Over the past decade, Karnataka has evolved into the second-largest global hub, boasting 15,000 engineers and multiple R&D centers that cater to all global sites. The state's growth plans encompass the establishment of a truck plant in Hoskote, a bus plant, and expansion in construction equipment, all aligned with the broader economic development.
Karnataka is at the forefront of Clean Mobility initiatives, seeking to encourage Volvo's participation in cars, buses, and trucks. Volvo is actively engaged in hydrogen research, particularly focusing on fuel cells onboard vehicles, with ongoing tests to convert vehicles from internal combustion engines in India.
Future endeavors involve the introduction of LNG with a dual-source system for buses, providing a range of 500 km to 700 km. The Karnataka is committed to facilitating policy support for widespread LNG vehicle adoption.
Volvo is committed to exploring all future technologies, including LNG, battery electric, and hydrogen fuel cells for commercial vehicles. Additionally, Volvo is keen on applying green hydrogen not only to traditional sources but also to automotive applications. The company is excited to share global experiences to contribute to shaping the future of the automobile industry.
Nestle
Remy Ejel, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Zone Asia, Oceania and Africa (AOA). Nestle, with 1800 employees in Nanjangud, plays a vital role in the coffee business. The company plans to expand production to 22,000 tonnes, collaborating with 5000 farmers and operating a demo farm for coffee plantation training.
Nestle's commitment to nutrition is evident in its direct engagement with 50,000 schools, promoting healthy eating habits and nutritional education. Acknowledging government support, Nestle sources 90% of its energy from solar via Long Term Power Agreement. Anticipating the operationalization of a biomass plant in the first half of 2025, nestle aims to make Karnataka a hub for sourcing clean energy with the government's backing.
Tillman Global
Tillman Global expressed their interest in exploring investments in India, particularly in the state of Karnataka, with a focus on building telecommunications infrastructure. The company aims to leverage the strong existing ecosystem and the attractive market conditions in the region.
Additionally, Tillman Group is considering solar in-house preference for data centers, and discussions were held on captive power procurement for upcoming investment plans in India.
A market study is currently underway for Tillman Group to inform their investment decisions. Furthermore, the meeting highlighted the group's interest in charging infrastructure for European truck manufacturers, with a larger opportunity anticipated in the commercial vehicles sector. The ambitious investment plan over the next decade is expected to amount to 25-30 billion dollars.
Coinbase
Coinbase, established by Bryan Armstrong as the largest listed digital asset web3 player globally, outlined plans for international expansion, with a specific focus on India and Karnataka.
The company is excited about the disruptive potential in the region, especially considering the developer community, Gen Z population, and the robust technological infrastructure. Coinbase expressed interest in collaborating with Karnataka to train individuals in Web3.0.
The group also highlighted the significant application of blockchain technology in payments, noting an uptick in adoption following government interventions worldwide. Recognizing the importance of introducing civil servants to blockchain technology, Coinbase proposed collaboration through a blockchain summit for knowledge dissemination and mutual understanding.
Karnataka’s Finance Department Additional Chief Secretary LK Atheeq, Industry Department Principal Secretary Selva Kumar, ITBT Secretary Ekrup Kour and other officers were part of the State’s delegation.