‘Govt must improve infrastructure with help from pvt firms’

‘Govt must improve infrastructure with help from pvt firms’
DH News Service Hubli

Hubli:Mr Kalyani said that academic institutions are nurseries for high-quality human resources.

Mr B N Kalyani, Chairman, Bharath Forge Company Limited, Pune, on Monday urged the government to take urgent steps to radically improve physical infrastructure wherever necessary, in partnership with the private sector.

Speaking at the inauguration of the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry here, he wanted the government to rationalise tax structures, accelerate labour reforms and facilitate development of skills.

The State government, with assistance from the Asian Development Bank had initiated the North Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Project at a total project cost of Rs 1,800 crore. It was gratifying to know that the twin cities of Hubli and Dharwad have been included in the 25 towns and cities under this project.


Better facilities

Local industry could look forward to better water supply, sewage system, storm water drains, solid waste management, urban roads, fire and emergency services.

These improved facilities would contribute in attracting more investments in the region, said Mr Kalyani.

Mr Kalyani said he foresees tremendous changes in the Hubli-Dharwad region in the next 3-5 years.

These would mainly be driven through partnership between various stakeholders. However, the key element would be the spirit of entrepreneur ship that flourishes here.

The entrepreneurs among them leverage the inherent strengths in the region to derive advantage for their business.

Competitive advantage

In the next 3-5 years the focus should be to leverage the strong educational infrastructure in Hubli-Dharwad to build competitive advantage. “If you are able to develop world-class intellectual capacities and capabilities among local people in agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing industry and services, it will be a source of long-term advantage that will then attract large capital investments in the region. Your region is well positioned in every way to follow this strategy,” he said.

He said the academic institutions were nurseries for high-quality human resources that were a critical input for them to compete successfully in the global economy.

They need to develop a cadre of global managers - people who were technically sound, proficient and well-equipped and who have the ability to operate across borders with confidence; could raise above regions and cultures; revel in diversity and could operate in spite of high ambiguity and frustration.

They should start at the grassroots-permit industry through industry associations to get actively involved in the running of ITIs and government polytechnics by providing faculty and in framing syllabus and course curricula.

If this was done, students passing out of these institutions would be better equipped with skills relevant to industry and thus could contribute more effectively at the work place, he said.