From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Dec 18: Karnataka’s Large and Medium Industry Minister RV Deshpande has promised to remove all problems and hurdles faced by industry and also assured that serious efforts were being made to tide over the power shortages.

Addressing the 4th annual Karnataka Manufacturing Summit organised by ASSOCHAM in Bengaluru on Friday, he said that the State Government was trying to usher in an efficient and transparent administration so that all problems faced by entrepreneurs are resolved in a time bound manner.

Admitting that there were several problems faced by industry as well as common citizens, Deshpande said the State Government was aware of all the problems and was continuously working to remove the same.

Referring to poor availability of power, the minister said 2300 MW of additional power will be available to the State grid by June next year.

The additional availability of power will take care of shortages currently being faced both by industry as well as general consumers, he said.

Deshpande also mentioned that the State Government was seriously looking at labour laws to make them productivity oriented while protecting interests of labour. 

The minister said the State Government had already accepted most of the parameters worked out by the Central government in relation to labour laws.

Speaking about the State’s strong traditional entrepreneurial base, Deshpande said Karnataka had all that is required for a positive industrial climate. 

He specifically mentioned steps being taken to strengthen infrastructural base of the state. 

While assuring all support to potential and existing investors, Deshpande called upon industry to consider expanding into Tier II and Tier III cities of the state.

He invited all potential investors to participate in forthcoming Investors’ Meet “Invest Karnataka – 2016” being held during February 2016 at Bangalore.

Nalaya Mitash, Secretary, Mines and MSMEs Department, urged entrepreneurs to attain competitiveness in their respective fields. 

He called for strengthening 3 Cs – Cluster, Corridor and Collaboration to make Indian industry, particularly MSMEs, globally competitive. 

While appreciating advancements made by a few MSME units that were supplying to global buyers, Mitash urged all small and medium entrepreneurs to collaborate in a manner so as to upgrade quality of their products and become truly competitive.

In his address, A C Sahu, General Manager, SIDBI, outlined some of the initiatives taken by the Central government and implemented through SIDBI to make “Make in India” campaign a success.

Earlier welcoming delegates to the Summit, S Babu, Member, AASSOCHAM Managing Committee, expressed concern at pending GST Bill and other reform measures that were impeding growth of economy. 

He called for specific steps to increase the country’s share of manufacturing as well as Karnataka’s GDP.