Karnataka Minister MB Patil meets Union Ministers to discuss state’s growth

New Delhi [India], September 10 (ANI): The Minister for Large and Medium Industries of Karnataka and Infrastructure Development, MB Patil, on Tuesday held pivotal meetings with three central ministers to discuss Karnataka’s growth and the support needed from the Central Government.

The discussions took place with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Minister for Heavy Industries, H.D. Kumaraswamy, and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Each meeting addressed critical areas where Karnataka seeks enhanced support and collaboration to drive its industrial and infrastructural development, as per an official statement.

During his meeting with Union Minister for Defence, Rajnath Singh, Minister MB Patil emphasised several key issues affecting Karnataka’s aerospace and defence sectors. The discussions highlighted the need to address the restrictions on simultaneous domestic production and exports for defence companies.

Minister Patil also proposed the establishment of defence corridors within Karnataka to capitalise on the state’s existing aerospace and defence ecosystem. Additionally, he sought to promote and encourage investment from Central Public Sector Units (CPSUs) in Karnataka and requested support for the development of Karwar Naval Air Station, specifically for extending the runway from 2000 meters to 2700 meters.

In his discussion with HD Kumaraswamy, Patil focused on several pressing issues impacting Karnataka’s industrial sector. The conversation covered the challenges faced by startups in the EV sector in meeting the Rs 10,000 crore revenue threshold under the PLI Auto Scheme and the delay in implementing the FAME 3 scheme, which is affecting EV adoption momentum.

Minister Patil also advocated for the expansion of CPSUs like BHEL, BEML, and SIL in Karnataka and addressed the need for Defence Technology Hubs. Other topics included the pending approval for the EMC cluster in Bengaluru Rural, environmental clearances for projects in Harohalli, Kuduthini, and Devakathikoppa, and delays in the Multi-Modal Logistics Park development.

Support was also sought for establishing a semiconductor company in Karnataka and addressing the exclusion of Karnataka from the list of new smart city projects under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP).

In his meeting with Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, the Karnataka minister discussed the critical need for financial support to advance Karnataka’s industrial and infrastructural development. The discussions focused on the need to revoke GST on airfreight to alleviate the burden on small exporters, particularly those dealing with perishable goods, thereby enhancing their global competitiveness.

Additionally, Minister Patil called for the rationalisation of high import tariffs and customs duties on electronic products to reduce the cost disadvantage for Indian exporters and bolster the electronics manufacturing sector’s global competitiveness.

These high-level discussions reflect Karnataka’s proactive approach in seeking Centre’s support to address key issues and drive its economic growth and development.