Bengaluru, Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday urged Czech companies to invest in districts beyond Bengaluru, identifying energy, automobile components, future mobility, aerospace and defence as potential areas of cooperation.
A delegation led by Czech Republic Deputy Prime Minister and Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlicek met Shivakumar at Vidhana Soudha to discuss investment opportunities and strengthen economic ties between Karnataka and the European country.
The Czech delegation included Deputy Foreign Minister Marie Chatardova, senior officials from the country’s foreign affairs and industry and trade ministries, Czech diplomatic representatives in India and Jan Rafaj, president of the Confederation of Industry and Transport of the Czech Republic. The delegation’s visit to India from October 11 to 16, including Bengaluru, is aimed at identifying investment opportunities and strengthening business cooperation, according to the chief minister’s office.
“Karnataka will be a long-term partner of the Czech Republic, and Czech companies should invest in various districts of Karnataka instead of limiting themselves to Bengaluru,” Shivakumar said, according to a statement issued by his office. Pointing to opportunities in the energy sector, Shivakumar said Karnataka was home to some of India’s largest solar power plants and oldest hydroelectric power plants, besides having substantial energy requirements. He specifically invited Czech energy major EPH , which he said had no presence in India, to explore investment opportunities in the state. Shivakumar said the state government would facilitate investments through Invest Karnataka, Karnataka Udyog Mitra, the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board and the state’s single-window clearance system.
