Fresh off his return from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar told the media on Sunday that Bengaluru has become the primary lens through which global leaders now view India’s economic potential. "The world has massive confidence in our youth," Shivakumar said, noting that with the city housing the lion's share of Fortune 500 offices, its role as a global gateway is undeniable.
Reflecting on the summit, Shivakumar noted that the competition was stiff, with ten Indian states and 65 countries vying for attention. While big names like Elon Musk dominated the headlines, the Karnataka delegation spent its time diving into the nitty-gritty of data centers, renewable energy, and urban planning. Interestingly, Shivakumar revealed that the state government made a tactical choice not to sign any MoUs while in Switzerland. Instead, they want investors to actually fly down to Karnataka to see the infrastructure, talent pool, and clean energy resources firsthand before putting pen to paper.
The Deputy CM also shared some personal observations from his road trip through Zurich and Milan, particularly praising the decades-old tunnel systems and the "civic discipline" he saw in Europe. It’s a standard he clearly wants to bring home, emphasising that Karnataka needs a 25-year mobility plan. He admitted that Bengaluru had stumbled in the past — specifically with the Peripheral Ring Road and the business corridor — and promised that such delays won't be repeated in other growing towns.
Growth, however, isn't just for the state capital. Shivakumar said investors are increasingly looking at tier-2 and tier-3 cities to keep local talent from migrating to big, congested hubs. To push this forward, the government is moving ahead with plans for an "IT City" and "AI City" in Bidadi. While he acknowledged political pushback and protests from local farmers, he remained firm: "No one can stop development." He argued that the compensation package being offered for land acquisition is the best in the country and will eventually win over the skeptics.
Regarding what is to be done in the near future, "Yes Bengaluru" has been planned to roll out next February. He plans to have a meeting soon with the Chief Minister to discuss how to step up the "pace of doing business," particularly for the 45 companies that evinced interest in electronics, nano-tech, and green hydrogen during their meeting at Davos.
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