Karnataka sets up task force to boost manufacturing

Task force to suggest measures to revive manufacturing

The Karnataka government has constituted a Manufacturing Task Force (MTF) under the chairmanship of V K Viswanathan, chairman of Bosch Limited, to advise the state on the various measures to be taken to boost the share of its manufacturing sector  to the GDP.

The task force will study and recommend measures to revive the manufacturing sector in the state. The MTF has already met twice and discussed the various issues relating to the preparation of a draft vision and strategy document, in line with the National Manufacturing Policy and to define the measures to be undertaken on short, mid and long term basis to achieve a substantial contribution to the manufacturing sector. It is proposed to finalise the draft report by the end of September 2013.

The members of the task force include Vikram Kirloskar, chairman and managing director of Kirloskar Systems Ltd, Vinod Nowal, deputy managing director of JSW Steel Limited and presidents of all chambers of commerce, Philip Divri, managing director, Volvo, Nirmala Shapoorkar, unit head, Nestle India Ltd and Nanjangud, principal secretaries of labour welfare, energy, finance and revenue departments.

H V Harish, president, Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC), told reporters that the government would be incorporating the recommendations of the Task Force in the new industrial policy of the state, which is being revised in January next year.

According to the economic survey of Karnataka for 2012-13, the growth rate in the industry sector is estimated to have stagnated at last year’s level of 2.4 per cent. This was largely due to a sharp decline in the manufacturing sector and a contraction in the growth rates of the mining and quarrying sectors.

The state intends to improve the contribution of the manufacturing sector to at least 25 per cent of the gross state domestic product (GSDP) in the coming years. Grant Thornton Advisory Pvt Ltd has been assigned to work with the MTF as the knowledge partner to provide analytical support, collect inputs and ideas from all the stakeholders, associations, departments among others and help in preparing final draft report, Harish said.