The much-awaited FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) cluster to be set up in Hubballi-Dharwad has finally been given the necessary clearance with the Finance Department consenting to the special incentive package to be offered to the investors in the cluster.
Making the announcement at the inauguration of a women’s conclave and TiECon-2022, an entrepreneurs’ summit in Hubballi on Saturday, Minister for Large and Medium Industries Murugesh Nirani said that in a bid to attract investors to the FMCG cluster, the Government had decided to give several subsidies and incentives. The event has been organised by the Hubballi chapter of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE).
Airport at Kittur
The Minister said that a proposal for constructing an international airport at Kittur, between Hubballi and Belagavi, was under discussion. A decision on acquiring 1,000 acres of land for establishment of industries near Khanapur railway station would be taken soon as the farmers had come forward to part with their land, he said.
Mr. Nirani said that business tycoon Gautam Adani was interested investing in Karnataka and after the first round of discussions, he had shown interest in investing around ₹50,000 crore in Karnataka. “During the Invest Karnataka global investors’ meet to be held on November 2,3, and 4 in Bengaluru, Mr. Adani would be announcing his projects for the State,” he said.
Elaborating on the State industrial policy, he said that the Government was providing several incentives to promote trade and industries. Already GOs had been issued reducing the property taxes of industries and commercial establishments by 30%. This apart, the Government was giving 75% subsidy to members of EWS (economically weaker sections) for purchase of sites for establishment of industries, he said.
Inaugurating the event, Chairman of the Legislative Council Basavaraj Horatti referred to the large number of vacant posts in the government sector and called on the younger generation to take up self employment to become self reliant.
Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar said that there was need for setting up more industries in north Karnataka to increase per capita income of the people of the region. He said that the top 10 districts in terms of per capita income were in south Karnataka and Dharwad stood 11th.
Laying of the Hubballi-Ankola railway line and development of the Belekeri port would help in industrial development of the region, he said, mentioning the need for more land acquisition around Hubballi-Dharwad for facilitating industrial development.
Managing Director of Swrnaa Group of Companies V.S.V. Prasad said that because of the TiE initiatives several budding entrepreneurs from the region had grown to become big entrepreneurs.
President of TiE Hubballi Vijesh Saigal welcomed the gathering. Chairman of TiE Global Board of Trustees B.J. Arun, TiECon convener Tarun Mahajan, convener of Women Conclave Pallavi Malani, and others were present.
