Media Release

Bengaluru, Jul 3: R V Deshpande, Hon’ble Minister for Revenue, government of Karnataka, during recently concluded 42nd Annual General Meeting of Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC), unveiled the annual report of BCIC for the year 2018-19 and corporate video of BCIC. Speaking on the occasion, Deshpande appraised that the Karnataka State is the boon for the Project Proponents and Investors for Investment purpose. The State has all kinds of resources, especially vast human resources, for setting-up of the projects, he added. He also said that despite the land, water and power costs being upward trends, the state continues to attract investments from pan India and overseas for the very simple reason that the State is industry conducive in nature. He mentioned that “We shall ensure the state government further prunes the ‘ease of doing business’ parameters in the State with new policy initiatives in the coming months.” Forecasting the industry trend, Deshpande informed that Industries biggest challenge in the coming years would be the Human Resources and fast depleting water resources. He urged Industry Captains to initiate on these two aspects and it is where Industry forums like BCIC could contribute their knowledge repository to find the viable and sustainable solutions for the teething problems.

Kishore Alva, in his presidential address, informed that chamber, during his presidential-ship has put maximum efforts to reach out to all the departments of the government of Karnataka representing industries’ issues and framing suitable initiations to address the concerns of the Industries. Acknowledging the concern and challenges being faced by the Industries in future days as informed by Revenue Minister, Alva appraised that the 14 Expert Committees were formed for various domains and the top executives having vast experience from the Industries and corporates were appointed as chairman and co-chairman for each of the Expert Committee. Each committee were assigned with the specific task of understanding the concerns of their respective domain Industries and take forward for ease of doing business. The concerns were deliberated and discussed in length in the Expert Committee Meetings and were presented to the Government, Alva added.

Alva further informed that BCIC has also gone a long way in creating platforms at various occasions giving opportunities for the Industries and Trade forums to interact with the Government and Bureaucrats for strengthening the Industrial development in the State. He also told that the presence of BCIC is not felt only by the State, but also accessed by the Trade Counsels and Business Missions of different countries. BCIC had witnessed the business delegations to this chamber from Thailand, Japan, China, Austria, Indonesia, Netherlands and Pennsylvania, paving way for Make in Karnataka, he told.

Continuing his address to nearly 350 Industry captains present during the 42nd AGM, Alva appraised that the Chamber has enriched its level of credibility within the Government and allied circles for its proposals and recommendations on various issues concerning the Industry, Trade and Business. He felt happy that for the first time in the history of Bangalore Chamber of Industry & Commerce, the chamber has been empanelled as a Member in the Higher Power Committees formed by the Government to provide inputs on the upcoming Global Investors Meet 2020. He also appraised that the chamber, in the last one year, has attained conducting the record events and enrolling the memberships.

Alva thanked all the members, office bearers and managing committee members of BCIC for their efforts in reaching the chamber to the further heights.

Later, M Maheshwar Rao, IAS, secretary to Government, Commerce and Industries Department of MSME and Mines delivering the Guest of Honour said that “The state government will proactively partner with industry leaders to scout for sustainable solutions on overall infrastructure woos, water security and other challenges so that Karnataka continues to remain the most preferred investment destination in the country.”