Monday, January 16, 2012

Public-private initiative planned to promote Hubli as investment hub

Public-private initiative planned to promote Hubli as investment hub
The Business Line BANGALORE, JAN. 15


A new public-private platform is planned to promote Hubli-Dharwad region as the next investment destination in the State. The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Hubli Chapter has come forward to help promote the twin city in various national and global meets.

The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister and Dharwad district-in-charge Minister, Mr Jagadish Shettar, addressing a TiECon 2012 session on ‘Taking Leap From Rs 100 crore to Rs 10,000 crore: Pune Story and Hubli Road ahead,' said, “The district administration will support the public-private initiative and help bring together authorities, entrepreneurs and eminent personalities to promote Hubli-Dharwad as the next investment destination in the State.”

“The public-private platform will be constituted in the next two months and I will instruct the district administration to reach out to the private sector to help constitute a co-ordination committee to being the process,” he added.

Dharwad Deputy Commissioner, Mr Darpan Jain, made a presentation on the initiatives taken by the district administration to improve the infrastructure in the region and on the further plans like upgradation of the airport, Bus Rapid Transport System, rolling out of the 24x7 water supply project to the entire city and others.

As the moderator of the session, Prof Ashok Shettar, Principal of BVB College of Engineering, said the TiE Hubli Chapter was ready to take up the responsibility of co-ordination on the issue, and Mr Jain felt there was a need for a more concerted and co-ordinated effort for marketing the region. “We will take up the proposal for discussion and act on constituting a co-ordination committee within two months,” Mr Shettar said.

The Karnatak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) President speaking on the occasion, said the chamber has already joined hands with the administration in promoting the region. “We facilitated setting up of permanent exhibition centre in north Karnataka to come up in Hubli-Dharwad. Co-ordinated with Apeda and Kappec to set up cold storage facility in the region,” he added.

LESSONS FROM PUNE

Speaking on the occasion, Commodore Anand Khandekar, President of Puna Chamber of Commerce and Industry, suggested a public-private platform is crucial to promote the twin cities.

Mr Khandekar, elaborating on the Pune model of developing the city into an investor-friendly region, talked about the strategy adapted by them to promote the city.

The Maratha Chamber of Commerce took up the responsibility of promoting the city through various initiatives. “There was no response in the beginning. But once it started, there was no need for further marketing,” he said. anil.u@thehindu.co.in

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