Oman: Karnik Discusses Biz Investment Potential in K'taka with NRIs
Pics: Clarence Pinto
By Our Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Oman
Oman, Nov 13: Captain Ganesh Karnik, deputy chairman of the government-appointed NRI Forum Karnataka, who was on a vist to Oman from Tuesday Novmber 9 to Friday November 12, gave a clarion call to people from Karnataka and others to invest in the state and reap good dividends.
Besides the ISC Karnataka Wing Rajyotsava celebrations and the function held privately by Dr C K Anchan and Ashok Suvarna at Al Falaj Hotel, Capt Ganesh Karnik was engaged in a series of meetings with the key members of the recently-formed Karnataka Business Forum-Muscat (KBF).
According to Aftab H Kola, a key member of the KBF-Oman, Capt Karnik was so positive with the establishment of the KBF that he offered full support.
Says Aftab Kola, ‘the Karnataka Business Forum-Muscat, under the patronage Embassy of India, will be the premier business forum representing people from different walks of life. Very soon, it will be launched formally.’
The key members include Aftab H Kola, G V Ramakrishna, S V R Kamath, R Vijay Kumar and N Shankar.
Congratulating the Karnataka community based in Oman for taking the initiative for establishing the Karnataka Business Forum-Muscat, Capt Karnik said that it will take cognisance of the huge potential of Karnataka NRIs who are keen to participate in any initiative that could lead to the betterment of their compatriots back home and promote economic activity among members and promote entrepreneurship skills among the youth.
At a luncheon meeting held by the Karnataka Business Forum-Muscat Capt Karnik said, ‘This is the sort of forum the government is looking for. We will offer our full support to the Karnataka Business Forum and we hope to work together to bring in more investments for projects and this will be an ideal platform for networking among Karnataka people based in Oman and subsequently connected to the Karnataka worldwide diaspora.’
Core sectors for investment
He added that core sectors which the government is looking for are in
information technology, tourism, infrastructure (growth engine), power, gems and jewellery, readymade garments and textiles, etc.’
Elaborating further, he said that the Karnataka government is envisaging 6000 MW of power in the next 6 years. He said that the State has embarked on an expansion process of tourism sector through public-private partnership mode and has signed projects with a total outlay of Rs 3,000 crore during the recently concluded Investors Summit in Bangalore. They are being offered investment subsidy of up to 35 per cent as per the tourism policy valid till 2014.’
Karnik further said that with regard to garments, ‘We have the best brands of the world in and around Bangalore. This can provide employment opportunities besides bringing all-round economic prosperity to the state and the country.'
NRIs concern
In a determined bid to address the issue of labour-class migrants to GCC countries, the Karnataka government has set up Migration Facilitation Centres. Says Karnik, "A large section of NRIs who carry the dream of going abroad are not well-prepared and stand a chance for exploitation and the kind of jobs they are assured are not meant for them. So, the Migration Facilitation Centres will provide training to empower them for the job they would take up in the Gulf countries. This orientation programme will expose them to visa regulations, contracts, do’s and dont’s of the countries they would taking up jobs, exposing them to culture and traditions of that country, etc."
Karnik said that these centres, to be established soon, will be working in Bangalore, Mangalore and Hubli.