 "Tier-II,-III cities can contribute to Karnataka's economic growth: CII")
Tier-II and tier-III cities can meaningfully contribute to Karnataka’s economic growth which is currently centred around Bengaluru, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) leadership said at a media event in the country’s tech hub.
CII said it will focus on ‘Beyond Bengaluru’ to enhance competitiveness, promote inclusiveness, and enable sectoral growth ecosystems.
Currently, CII has representation in Mysuru, Hubbali, Belagavi, Mangalore, and Dharwad. It plans to strengthen the ecosystem in these cities and further expand in North Karnataka in towns like Kalaburagi, Bellary, and Hosapete.
“Especially Mysuru being close to Bengaluru and well-connected by current infrastructure such as rail and port, shows significant growth potential. The government has established an ESDM (Electronics System Design and Manufacturing) cluster there, recognising it as a sunrise industry. We aim to develop industry clusters with comprehensive ecosystems, which will facilitate further growth of these clusters,” Rabindra Srikantan, vice chairman of CII Karnataka and managing director of ASM Technologies, told Business Standard.
CII leadership said that a lot of focus this year will be on sunrise and emerging sectors such as ESDM, semiconductors, EVs, and automobiles.
In close collaboration with the government, CII Karnataka aims to foster a thriving business environment in key areas such as global capability centres (GCCs), technology and innovation, clean and alternative energy, and MSMEs.
The ‘Beyond Bengaluru’ initiative is expected to empower tier-II and tier-III cities by enhancing the ease of doing business, implementing skilling programs, and promoting energy efficiency.
“As part of our agenda for this year, CII is committed to embracing advanced technologies and fostering innovation, which will be fundamental to our efforts of supporting industry 4.0 transformation. Our goal is to strengthen Karnataka’s position as the hub for cutting-edge research, development, and implementation,” said N Venu, chairman of CII Karnataka and MD & CEO - India & South Asia, Hitachi Energy.
“Recognizing the importance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) factors, there will be a continued emphasis on energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption. The energy transition presents a significant opportunity for businesses engaged in generation, transmission, distribution, or consumption,” Venu added.
Srikantan highlighted that emerging sectors like aerospace, electric mobility, healthcare, and agri-tech hold tremendous potential for growth and job creation. While Karnataka significantly contributes to the country’s GDP, the majority of this growth is concentrated in Bengaluru, he said.
“We collaborate with a member base that includes many ESDM companies. New companies joining us are often prospective members. These companies work closely with the government, monitoring policies and incentives in various clusters, and ensuring our members -- whether large corporations or small businesses-- are kept informed,” said Srikantan.
CII also reiterated its commitment to strengthen the relationship between industry and academia to prepare young people with the necessary skills for the future workforce and business environment.
CII said it will proactively engage with various stakeholders, including international consulates, to seek out business opportunities, promote job preparedness through focused programmes and cross learning initiatives for both faculty and students.