Siddaramaiah invites NRI tycoons in UAE to invest in Karnataka

executive@coastaldigest.com (Shodhan Prasad)
May 2, 2017

Dubai: KNRI Forum-UAE president and chairman of Fortune Group of Hotels, Praveen Kumar Shetty in association with industrialist Ronald Colaco hosted the first ever historical KNRI-UAE Business Meet with Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah at Fortune Park Hotel, Dubai Investment Park on Saturday the 29th April, 2017 evening with very many well-known business community Kannadiga invitees along with KNRI-UAE Office bearers which was a successful event hosted with dinner.

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Ronald Olivera as master of ceremony welcomed Siddaramaiah, Ronald Colaco, Praveen Shetty and all the dignified members of KNRI Business Executives to the business meet and elaborated on the event. CM was honoured with flower bouquet by Praveen Shetty and later other distinguished guests, Dr. Arathi Krishna, the Vice President of NRI Forum Govt. of Karnataka, Shri. Govindaraju, Ex-MLA Shri. H. Srinivas, MLA Moideen Bava and other dignitaries were welcomed with flower bouquet. Philanthropist Ronald Colaco was also later welcomed with flower bouquet by Praveen Shetty.

Siddaramaiah later inaugurated the event with the traditional lighting of the lamp along with Ronald Colaco & Praveen Shetty.

Praveen Shetty rendered the welcome speech and thanked all those who have wholeheartedly come to the event and also mentioned special thanks to the CM for accepting his invitation. He also thanked Ronald Colaco for supporting him in this historical event.

Ronald Colaco beautifully introduced Siddaramaiah with step by step chronological narration of a humble person’s true story from his early days to the current position how he ambitiously surpassed with double jump in his career all through and became a leader of the Kannadigas. He then said that he is proud to say that CM Siddramaiah is closely known to him all these years and respected him as a true leader.

The evening continued with introduction of all those invited Kannadiga NRI business community people who one by one introduced themselves to the audience as well as CM who was carefully listening all through.

CM later thanked Praveen Shetty for hosting such an event and thanked all those Kannadiga NRI business people for attending such an event. He then repeated some of his briefings of the previous day’s KNRI-UAE inauguration speech and said that it may educate those who have not attended the historical event. He requoted the words of the famous Kannada poet Kuvempu “Wherever you live, however you live be a Kannadiga anytime – Yelladuru iru, Yenthadaru iru, Yendendigu nee Kannada Vagiru “.

While briefing that Karnataka now has become No. 1 investment friendly state for Indians and also No. 2 as investors friendly state for foreign direct investments, he promised full cooperation and support with legal assistance to all those investors in their ventures in Karnataka.

While welcoming new investors he said that Karnataka government has started the Pravasi Bharatiya Conference which identifies the ‘Varshada Kannadiga’ and honours the identified business man of the year with the award every year.

He also briefed on the NRI Forum, Karnataka’s slogan ‘One State – Many Opportunities’ and said that Karnataka is the IT hub of the world with the state contributing over 40% of the IT Exports of India. He added that the GDP of the state grew at 5.3% v/s 5% of the India GDP and Karnataka is the ideal location for Hi-tech industries like Aerospace, Automobiles, IT & BT. He proudly stated that Bangalore is the Silicon Valley of India and Karnataka is the knowledge hub of Asia. The pamphlet distributed by the NRI Forum Karnataka states that Karnataka ranks 5th in India for growing vegetable crops, it is the largest producer of Floriculture, Spices, Aromatic and Medical Crops & Fruits, is producing 70% of India’s Coffee, 3rd state in India’s Sugar production and major scope for Agri-exports, Animal husbandry, Poultry, Milk & Fisheries in record.

Followed was question answer cession wherein some of the NRI Kannadigas who raised some valuable questions while CM responded politely with acceptance. Hafiz Saifulla, CEO of Zhumino Group of Companies highlighted on the vegetable exports from India which is banned due to the poor methodology. He said that we should work on providing Indian farmers with value added solutions so that our Products will have a high importance while on export market comparing the situations of those exports from other friendly states. He stressed that Karnataka should follow the methodology of Europe and set standards for Karnataka based perishable products. CM answering to his question invited him to raise this issue directly to him so that he will work on real solutions to this issue.

There were various other questions including providing spaces in some of the Industrial Zones and/or granting special zones for KNRI’s in those specified zones. Dr. Kaup, one of the respected member also stressed on giving permission for the foreign Educational Institutes and Universities to open up in Karnataka so that our own Kannadiga students will get some attractive opportunities to opt their higher studies in Karnataka instead of going to Europe.

CM shared and responded that there is a link created by the government for all the queries one may have and NRI Kannadigas can any time log in to it to know better Karnataka. He confirmed that his government is looking into all the grievances of Kannadigas worldwide and will be more than happy to address each and every issue one may have. While taking it forward into a complaint free state of India, he assured all assistance to the really required Indian Kannadigas in whatever issues they may have in the development of the Karnataka State.

Ronald Olivera concluded the evening with vote of thanks which was followed by sumptuous classic dinner hosted by Fortune Group of Hotels. Broadway Events headed by Joel Crasta supported both the KNRI-UAE main event & the Business Dinner event with sound, light and photographs professionally.

Also Read: CM inaugurates Karnataka NRI Forum-UAE; hails initiative of Kannadigas

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News Network
February 6,2025

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Mangaluru: The SIA Group of Institutions is set to unveil its brand-new campus at Arkula, Mangaluru, with a grand two-day celebration, SIAspire, on February 7th and 8th. This event promises a unique blend of exhibitions, entertainment, and adventure, offering an exciting experience for visitors of all ages.

Event Highlights

SIAspire will feature a variety of engaging activities, including:

✅ Thrilling Adventure Sports: Horse Riding, Archery, and Jumping Balloon Bouncer
✅ Interactive Game Zones for children and families
✅ Cultural & Educational Exhibitions showcasing innovation and creativity
✅ Delicious Food Stalls offering a variety of cuisines

Event Details

Dates: February 7 & 8, 2025

Timings:

February 7: 3:30 PM – 8:00 PM
February 8: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Venue: SIA Campus, Arkula, Mangaluru

An Invitation to the Community

SIAspire is open to the public, and entry is free. The event aims to bring together students, parents, and the local community to celebrate education, talent, and culture in an engaging atmosphere.

Speaking about the event, an SIA spokesperson stated, "The launch of our new campus is a milestone in our journey. SIAspire is not just an inauguration event but a celebration of learning, creativity, and community spirit."

How to Participate?

Visitors can walk in and explore the festivities, participate in adventure activities, and enjoy a variety of entertainment programs.

For further details, contact: 8792244939

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News Network
January 31,2025

Bengaluru: Special matching grants for the development of the backward region of Kalyana Karnataka, approval for the Mekedatu project and release of Rs 11,495 crore of special grants recommended by the 15th Finance Commission were among the suggestions and requests made by the Karnataka government during a pre-budget consultation with the Centre.

Last month, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met finance ministers of states and union territories (UTs) to take their demands and suggestions for the Union Budget 2025-26, to be presented on February 1.

In his presentation at the meeting, Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on behalf of the state government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah sought release of Rs 5,300 crore promised in the Union Budget to Upper Bhadra project to provide water to drought prone central Karnataka and special matching grants for the development of backward region of Kalyana Karnataka and the global eco sensitive Western Ghats.

The state urged the Central government to shift from a "reimbursement-based" system to an "advance-release" model for the implementation of the centrally sponsored schemes and also proposed increasing the Central share of their honorariums to Rs 5,000 per month for ASHA workers and Rs 2,000 for Anganwadi helpers.

According to a statement shared by the Gowda's office on Friday, the minister suggested increasing Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana assistance from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs five lakh for urban houses and from Rs 72,000 to Rs three lakh for rural houses.

Karnataka has requested additional railway lines, expedited projects, and Central support for 50 per cent of land acquisition and 100 per cent construction costs.

The state also urged approvals for road infrastructure proposals, including new ring roads and upgrades to National Highways.

Gowda has also requested the Union government to increase pensions for old-age, widows, physically-challenged persons.

The Karnataka government called for transparent and need-based reforms in disaster relief fund allocation and timely release of SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) funds, prioritising states' disaster vulnerabilities, it stated.

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coastaldigest.com news network
February 12,2025

Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta has urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to prioritize increased investments in Mangaluru during the upcoming Global Investors Meet for Coastal Karnataka. He emphasized the region’s immense potential for sustainable industrial growth.

Coastal Karnataka’s Strengths

The MP highlighted Coastal Karnataka’s skilled workforce, premier educational institutions, and strong entrepreneurial ecosystem, making it an ideal destination for industrial expansion.

With its strategic location, excellent port connectivity, and robust infrastructure, the region is particularly suited for industries in R&D, Global Capability Centers (GCCs) - IT and ITES, fintech, renewable energy, marine biotechnology, tourism, and food processing.

Challenges Hindering Growth

Despite these advantages, the MP acknowledged challenges such as youth unemployment, migration of skilled talent, and a lack of large-scale industrial investments. He urged the government to take concrete steps to address these issues.

Proposed Investment Initiatives

To harness the untapped potential of Coastal Karnataka, he requested the CM’s support in:

•    Establishing an IT and startup hub to leverage the region’s large talent pool, boost entrepreneurship, and curb brain drain.

•    Facilitating investments in GCCs and R&D centers, capitalizing on the region’s skilled workforce.

•    Setting up a technological innovation park in Mangaluru to attract investors and institutions.

•    Enhancing New Mangalore Port and developing an integrated coastal economic zone to encourage global trade and manufacturing.

•    Supporting sustainable fisheries, marine research, and ocean-based industries.

•    Encouraging investments in eco-tourism, wellness retreats, and adventure tourism to drive economic growth.

The MP stressed that proactive government intervention in these sectors would significantly boost the region’s economy, attract industries, and create employment opportunities. The proposal is now under consideration.

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