From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Nov 20: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will be meeting Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Delhi on Thursday and demand increase in the loan amount from NABARD to Karnataka, which has been slashed to Rs 2,340 crore this year from Rs 5,600 crore last year.
Speaking to media persons in Bengaluru on Wednesday, he said his office has already sought an appointment to meet the Union Finance Minister in Delhi.
Reducing the loan amount from NABARD will impact the credit flow to farmers, he explained.
Siddaramaiah, who is leaving for Delhi tonight, said he will also try to meet the Congress party’s Central leaders if possible.
Karnataka to climb to 2nd position in FDI flow
The Chief Minister, who addressed the 78th annual technical conference of the Indian Institute of Metals at the GKVK campus, said the State was likely to jump from the present third position in the entire country in respect Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in industrial investments, to the second position soon.
The FDI flow will increase from the present Rs 54,427 crore by another Rs 19,049 crore in the next six to seven months taking the total FDI flow to Rs 73,000 crore.
Karnataka is poised to provide additional 1.73 lakh jobs with more companies coming forward to invest in the State, he said.
The Chief Minister said the State was interested in ensuring balanced development of industrial growth as well as environmental protection. The government will give special boost to the research and innovation to ensure that the State achieves a balanced growth, he said.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the State Government was keen on development of the Information Technology and Bio-Technology sectors besides giving a special thrust to semi-conductor, chip design and innovation to cater to skilled professionals.
Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil said the State Government was giving a special thrust for the development of digital industry and also Artificial Intelligence sectors.
IIM President Sajjan Jindal and V K Murugan as well as other industry captains were present.
CM meets UK High Commissioner
Earlier, the British High Commissioner to India Linday Cameroon called on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his Home Office of Krishna.
The Chief Minister assured the British government that the State would extend all possible help and support to the British investors. He said the Indo-British collaboration would be mutually beneficial as the State had the most progressive and industry friendly policises.