Belgaum to host IT investors' meet

The Hindu Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Belgaum to host IT investors' meet

Staff Correspondent

Entrepreneurs from Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune to be invited

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Preparations on, but date is yet to be finalised
New sites identified for IT and Apparel Parks, SEZs
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Belgaum: In an effort to boost industrial development in this border district, which is being projected as the second major industrial destination after Bangalore, the Government has decided to convene an investors' meet exclusively for the information technology (IT) sector.

Highly placed sources told The Hindu here on Tuesday that at least 100 prospective investors and entrepreneurs from the three major IT cities — Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune — would be invited to participate in the meet. The District Industries Centre (DIC) has started making preparations for the meet, but date is yet to be finalised.

The investors' meet held here on March 8 brought investment proposals worth Rs. 810 crore from 108 firms, promising employment opportunities to 12,000 people. More proposals followed, taking the total to 156. Of these, 106 firms have shown interest in going ahead with their proposals, but have been held back owing to constrains at the two major industrial areas in Udyambag and Autonagar. The DIC has identified new localities on the outskirts of Belgaum city for an IT Park, an Apparel Park, a general Special Economic Zone (SEZ), two SEZs for the sugar and engineering sectors, and other major industries.

According to Minister for Horticulture and district in-charge Shashikant A. Naik, 169 acres and 32 guntas in Survey No. 152 adjacent to Visvesvaraya Technological University has been identified for the IT Park. An area of 5 acres and 17 guntas has been earmarked to set up an earth station to facilitate high-speed Internet/wireless communication facilities for the IT Park.

Another 69 acres and 32 guntas of land has been identified for the Apparel Park, close to the IT Park. Sources said that a group of entrepreneurs engaged in the powerloom/textile manufacturing sector in Belgaum had floated a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to develop the Apparel Park.

Mr. Naik said 3,000 acres had been identified in Hukkeri taluk for the establishment of an SEZ.