From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jan 9: Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil announced on Thursday that the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) will establish a Jeans Park at Sajanjeerayanakote, near Ballari.

Patil stated that 154 acres of land have already been acquired for the project, fulfilling the assurance made by AICC leader Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Highlighting the project’s potential, Patil said globally renowned companies are expected to set up operations in the park. He explained that political uncertainty in Bangladesh has created an opportunity to bolster the jeans industry in Ballari.

“The unstable situation in Bangladesh has prompted investors and exporters to explore alternatives, and Ballari has emerged as a favorable destination. We aim to capitalize on this by attracting significant investments in the jeans sector,” he said.

Ballari, already home to over 500 jeans manufacturing units, generates tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs. The Industries Department plans to develop the area into an organized export hub with assistance from the Textile Department.

Patil mentioned that a meeting will soon be held with the Textile Minister to discuss potential incentives for jeans manufacturing units.

During the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul Gandhi interacted with workers and employers in Ballari’s jeans industry and assured them of setting up a Jeans Park. He later wrote to the Industries Department on August 1, 2023, regarding the project’s implementation.

According to Patil, the current geopolitical situation is conducive to realizing this vision. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also announced the initiative in the state budget presented in February 2024.

The project aims to elevate the jeans industry in Ballari to global standards by organizing it under a structured framework, Patil added.