FKCCI seeks to strengthen district chambers

NGOs like the FKCCI must join hands with the government to accelerate the process of revitalising manufacturing, services and trade (MST). With this in mind, FKCCI is making efforts to strengthen the district chambers, FKCCI president J R Bangera has said.

Bangera, who was in Mysore recently to highlight the increased role district units have to play in achieving the objectives he had listed out to achieve in the vision statement of June, 2011-12, said FKCCI was well placed to take this initiative forward and develop districts as well. “There are about 42 district chambers in the State. In order to strengthen them at grassroot level, FKCCI has set up five regional committees and asked them to come out with action plans. Regional committees are a new concept. Further, it is intended to have a business meeting of these bodies during September-October in Bangalore,” he said adding funds were not a problem for strengthening these units.

 

Speaking to Business Standard, he said the objective of setting up regional committees was to create opportunities in the districts, coming under them, identifying their uniqueness in MST sectors, may be agriculture, handicrafts, horticulture, industry or tourism.

Such an inclusive growth would arrest rural population migration to urban areas, develop local talent and skill, and create facilities with involvement of local panchayats and corporates.

Setting his vision to enable Karnataka to be a role model of a successful investment destination for MST development, Bangera said his objectives were to make allout efforts for enterprise development in MST sectors, MST development for sustainable development, facilitate training for employable skills, and find out ways and means to revamp the existing manufacturing industry through productivity improvement, innovative technology initiatives and better market capability in State.

“Government of India is planning to strengthen the manufacturing sector through various policy initiatives. It should be our endeavour to work in tandem with it to make these sectors robust and vibrant more so under the present market situation,” the FKCCI chief said.

A jiggery cluster in Chamarajanagar could help improve process technology and packaging and develop the jiggery market, said Chamarajanagar chamber president Aswathanarayana.

Mysore Traders’ Association representative Satish said Mysore agricultural produce marketing committee was earning Rs 5 crore a year, but not even 10 per cent was being spent on APMC development, where scope for an exclusive flower market existed.

Mysore Chamber chief H D Raghavendra said Mysore could be declared a heritage city, an international tourism centre and handicrafts marketing facility created. Former President R.Krishna suggested business and tourism development seminars in Mysore to explore opportunities and issues in the two areas. Regional chief Girish Ganapathy spoke on lack of facilities at tourist places like Abbi Falls and Talacauvery in Kodagu.