From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
 
Bangalore, Aug 10: After the phenomenal success of the two Global Investors Meets organized by the State Government during the last four years in mobilizing massive investments from domestic and foreign investors, the State Government has taken a new initiative aimed at boosting the confidence of investors in Karnataka by launching an online portal - e-udyami – to help them track the status of their projects from anywhere in the world.

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who launched the portal, said Karnataka is the first state in the country to launch the initiative for the benefit of entrepreneurs and thereby proved that the State is really the most investor-friendly.

Karnataka Udyog Mitra, the single window agency for all investors, embarked on the initiative to ensure transparency in the projects for which memorandum of understanding had been signed during the Global Investors' Meet held in June last.

''The idea behind the portal is to create an online system allowing all investors, independent of their current location, to invest in Karnataka without the hassle of visiting multiple departments,” he said adding: ''Process streamlining, increased transparency, time saving and increased efficiency are only a few benefits investors can expect from the implementation of the portal.”

The portal would be accessible for all registered investors who have signed MoU during the two editions of the Global Investors Meets held in the State-- GIM 2010 and 2012.

The portal can be accessed online www.advantagekarntaka.com Investors would receive their login details via e-mail.

After logging in to the portal, the investors can apply online for various clearances, incentives, subsidies etc. All necessary applications forms can be found online.

Large and Medium Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani said investors had deposited Rs 1200 crore with the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board seeking lands for their projects.

Special incentives would be given to investors who take up projects in tier II and tier II cities.
Already 30,000 acres had been acquired and a final notification had been issued to acquire 46,000 acres.

Nirani said investors'  meet would be held in each district to attract investment in small scale industrial sector.

Asked about the proposed POSCO steel plant, Nirani said “the POSCOplant” is a closed chapter.

The farmers had opposed establishment of the steel plant in Gadag's Mundargi taluk. The POSCO had signed the MoU with the State government during GIM 2010.
 

Nirani lambasts SMK, says 'Cong no match to BJP'
 
Nirani lambasted the former chief minister and Union External Affairs S M Krishna for his remarks on ‘poor implementation' of projects signed at Global Investors Meet held in 2010 and 2012.

The opposition leaders had underestimated the development works done by the BJP Government during the last four years.

Instead applauding the number of projects signed during the global investors' meets, the Congress leaders politicizing the issue of acquisition of lands for industrial projects, Nirani said.

Recently, Krishna had alleged that the Government held GIM meetings only to acquire lands and not for setting up industries to accelerate the economic growth.

During Krishna's tenure as the Chief Minister, Nirani said barely Rs 12,000 crore projects had signed in GIM of which projects with investment of just Rs 8000 crore projects had been implemented.
 
“Krishna scored just one to two runs in an over while we had scored 30 to 32 runs in a over,” Nirani said.

The Government has set a target to implement 60 per cent MOUs signed during the GIM 2012, he said.

Stating that Krishna had no moral right to comment on the Industries Department, Nirani said the government always welcomes positive suggestions from the Opposition for better implementation of schemes and projects.

There was no substance in the Opposition leader Siddaramaiah's allegation that in the guise of GIM, Government had acquired land for lesser price and sold it for higher price.
 
“Such allegations are baseless and for from the truth,” Nirani said urging both Krishna and Siddaramaiah not to be negative in their comments as it would hamper the industrial growth in the state.