June-July 2017 | Vol 3 | Issue 3 www.advantagekarnataka.in We make it convenient and seamless to Do: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah A Fine Balancing Act Dr. G. Parameshwara Price Rs. 60/- 1 ADVANTAGE KARNATAKA 2 3 EDITORIAL Save Lakes, Solve Water Crisis Pollution and water scarcity are the twin woes making life hell for residents of Bengaluru. When the highly-polluted Bellandur Lake caught fire in February this year, people in other parts of the country and even abroad took notice of the serious environmental crisis facing the Information Technology capital of the country. That the lake had caught fire several times earlier and the February incident was only the latest in a series despite the intervention of not only environmentalists and residents but also the courts increases the gravity of the situation. Later, in March, when the Varthur Lake turned into a cauldron of froth and foam, the issue became one that raised concerns even over the future of Bengaluru. With the air quality of the city already one of the worst in the country, some scientists have said unless the authorities took corrective A magazine showcasing action, Bengaluru could turn an uninhabitable city by 2025. the latest news updates and events of Karnataka Meanwhile, Karnataka is facing a severe water crisis for the fourth consecutive year with rainfall recording a deficiency of 40-70 per cent during the August-December period last year. The Government declared 160 of the 176 taluks in the State drought-hit in early March, when the summer months were still far away. An Indian Institute of Science study last year had revealed that Bengaluru has lost 79 per cent of its water bodies Editorial Adisory Board owing to urbanisation and 98 per cent of its lakes have been encroached upon. The result is, the city is dependent on water from Cauvery while Dr. C.G. Krishnadas Nair Former Chairman, HAL potential water sources exist in abundance in its limits. Dr. D. S. Ashwath IAS (Retd) Though efforts have been taken in the past like the formation of Lake Shri. Ivan Nigli Ex. MLA Development Authority to save and rejuvenate the waters bodies, they have met with limited success. The Government, in such circumstances, Sunny Jerome should treat the pollution of the lakes and the water scarcity through the Managing Editor same lens and solve one to make the other more manageable. Preethi M Associate Editor Trivandrum S. Radhakrishnan For Publishing Articles, Advertisements Editor, ADVANTAGE KARNATAKA, Aerosun Media Pvt. Ltd., B-2, SAPPHIRE, 1st, Block, 3rd Street, 2nd Cross, Prakruthi Town ship, Babusapalya, Kalyan Nagar Post, Bangalore - 560043. Tel : 080 25604055. Cell: + 91 94490 61925, 94805 51925. Edited, Printed & Published by Sunny Jerome, Managing Editor, ADVANTAGE KARNATAKA, Email : [email protected] Aerosun Media Pvt. Ltd., B-2, SAPPHIRE, 1st, Block, 3rd Cross,Prakruthi www. advantagekarnataka.in Township,Babusapalya, Kalyan Nagar Post, Bangalore - 560043. Printed at Rashtrotthana Mudranalaya, 19/1, K.G. Nagar, Bangalore - 19. 4 5 ADVANTAGE KARNATAKA Karnataka: One of India’s Top Investment Destinations With proactive industrial policies and high rank in ease of doing business, Karnataka is the hottest destination for investors. Stay tuned to the coming issues in this Content series that unravels easy steps to the journey of investing in Karnataka. If you are looking to invest newly, if you have 7 Karnataka: Top Investment Destination already invested, you’ll definitely find useful information here. We welcome 9 Lakes of Fire & Foam you to send your questions, doubts and suggestions to us. Your experiences shall 10 STARTUP - Making the Right ‘Clicks’ prove helpful to others in the bandwagon. Together, let’s make the journey more 11 A Fillip to Infrastructure easy and fruitful. 12 Industries Aiming for 12 % Growth nvesting in Karnataka – An Introduction Investments are subsequent returns. To begin with, the focus on providing the basic bursts of ‘’energy’’ required to actively sustain a robust necessities such as Infrastructure, Land availability, Power and 14 Universal Development with a Human Face Ieconomic activity for a longer time which in turn creates Water supply has increased even as the government machinery economic prosperity. This results, in higher earning capacity is working hard on ensuring these necessities are made available An Excellent Track Record leading to greater spends that in turn again provide an impetus for potential investors and companies. At the supply front, the 17 for a continued economic growth. Karnataka, the 8th largest state is focussing on establishing institutions across academic A Fine Balancing Act state in India with close to 66.1 million population and a steadily streams to promote quality education as means to create enough 19 growing younger demographic is fast becoming one of the most supply for the skilled job space and on vocational training for the Unity is Strength, Says Congress In-charge attractive investment destinations in the country. It is also seen semi-skilled job space. At the Execution level, the government 21 as a proactive state having pioneered machinery has been working to stand the IT revolution and setting up of IT tall in The Ease of Doing Business by 23 A Winning Combination Knowledge Parks in India leading to a working on methods to provide quicker change in the economic contours of the ‘’At $156.23Bn access to the relevant departments of 24 Ease of Doing Business state and establishment of a thriving Karnataka stood 5th the machinery, faster land acquisition business ecosystem over the last three and clearing of the files and even aiding Spreading out from capital city decades. overall with 7.54% in the implementation of the projects. 36 Though Karnataka is predominantly Good news is that the momentum contribution towards known for the IT ecosystem, it is one 38 Winning the War against Hunger that began towards the end of the National GDP’’ of the most industrialized states in the Bangalore Metro 90s has been sustained as more and country with a clear focus on other 40 more initiatives have been taken up industries too. One can see the intent by successive governments to ensure of the state as it strongly continues to 42 Bangalore Sports (Cricket Leads the Peak) a sustained economic growth. The GDP of Karnataka stands at promote the other sectors such as Bio-technology, Health Care, $156.23Bn (‘15) and has been steadily growing at 7%, almost Manufacturing, Agri and Food processing, Energy and Tourism. 43 Mysuru Dasara, the cound down begins on par with the nation’s growth rate and the future does look This is good enough news for investors who are looking to focus promising for this southern state. on sectors other than IT. An example of faith imposed in the 44 Lights, Camera, Action,... state of Karnataka by the investors is the $10.4Bn investment Advantage Karnataka: intentions received in the first half of last year (2016) even as the 45 Street Food in Karnataka The state headed by its capital city of Bengaluru has a state moved to the number one position in the category. The geographical advantage in terms of its location and connect investment intentions worth $10.4Bn reasserted Karnataka’s position as one of the top investment destinations in India. As an 48 Karnataka Tourism not only with other parts of India but with other parts of the world. Another great advantage is establishment and reach of investor one would certainly weigh in the Pros and Cons and look for future potential before taking a step, and here are a few strong 50 Recognition for Nurses several academic institutions that create a large knowledge pool of resources which cater to several industries. The fact that facts that reassert Karnataka’s position as a winning partner as far Bengaluru hosts not only the largest IT hub but also the largest as investments are concerned: R&D and Bio-tech hubs goes to show the kind of potential the q It has the 4th largest skilled work force in the country as it state holds for a robust and complimentary economic activity in employs 6.6% of the country’s industry employment. the years to come. q It is a pioneer in introducing industry policies; the first to introduce policies for Aerospace, Bio-Technology, IT, Semi- The state government has over the years realized the potential conductors and Start-Ups. and has actively pushed forward several norms and policies q Perhaps, it has the best labour relations in the country; labour to create a very conducive environment for investments and is very industry friendly. 6 7 ADVANTAGE KARNATAKA q It has 90,000 acres of land allotted for economic development q Also, the most expat-friendly place with an outstanding Social 40,000 of which has been notified for industrial purposes. infrastructure and Cosmopolitan culture. q It has the largest bio-diversity in the country with 10 agro climate zones to cultivate various crops. Emergence of Tier II cities: q Most globalized state with highest degree of openness to If Bengaluru leads the way for the economic prosperity of the LAKES export trade at 47.7% vis-à-vis national average of 24%. state, the tier II towns of Mysuru, Hubli - which is fast becoming q It attracts the 4th highest FDI in India with a cumulative of another start-up center, Mangaluru and Belgaum are fast 12.2Bn since 2009 becoming centres of business activities. As a result, the business of Fire & Foam The above stats go ecosystem is slowly spreading farther and wider across the state to show the extent resulting in a safer business model where several areas of the ‘’The state hosts of the achievements state contribute to its growth rather than just one or two.