Industry honchos urge minister to cut red tape
BENGALURU:
Soon after the Covid-19 lockdown, Karnataka Industries Minister Jagdish Shettar had proposed that the state attract companies wanting to exit China.
On Tuesday, the minister touched on this aspect again during a video conference with high-profile industrialists like Nandan Nilekani, Non-Executive Chairman of Infosys, Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and CEO of Infosys Kris Gopalakrishnan.
Shettar gave an overview of the steps taken by the state government to restart industries in the latter phase of the lockdown. He said the state government is taking investment-friendly measures to attract industries to Karnataka.
Nilekani, Mazumdar-Shaw and Gopalakrishnan praised the state government’s efforts in containing the coronavirus. They offered suggestions on easing land acquisition rules and procedures for opening new factories in the state.
Following the pandemic, several international companies are considering moving their manufacturing plants out of China. The minister suggested that a list of 100 such companies be prepared and discussions held with their CEOS.
Appreciating the suggestions made by the industrialists, Shetar said a new industrial policy would be framed, with a focus on MSMEs.
Chief Secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar, Industries and Commerce Department Principal Secretary Gaurav Gupta, and Industries and Commerce Department Commissioner Gunjan Krishna took part in the video conference.