12 Tata firms keen to invest in Karnataka, says official

12 Tata firms keen to invest in Karnataka, says official

Economic Times - 31 May 2010, 2127 hrs IST,IANS

BANGALORE: At least 12 companies of the $70-billion Tata Group have shown interest in investing in Karnataka and help develop infrastructure, a senior official said on Monday.

"A delegation of Tata firms has evinced interest in housing, hospitality and steel sectors. We have approved a proposal from Tata Metaliks to set up a steel plant at Haveri in central Karnataka and offered land to the group for housing projects at different locations in the state," Industries and Commerce Principal Secretary V P Baligar told reporters here.

In the run-up to the Global Investors' Meet (GIM 2010) June 3-4, the Tata delegation led by Tata Steel vice-chairman B. Muthuraman held discussions with Minister for Large and Medium Industries Murugesh R Nirani and officials to find out what the state government was offering to prospective investors.

"We are interested to invest in Karnataka in power, steel, housing, tourism, communication and aerospace sectors and look forward to full support of the state government for the ongoing projects and future investments in the state," Muthuraman said.

The Tata Housing Development Co has shown interest in replicating its Nano housing model in the state, which offers budget flats for about Rs 400,000.

"We have agreed to offer land at various places, including Devanahalli and Doddaballaupur near Bangalore, Dharwad in the northern region and Mysore and Harohalli in the southern region," Baligar said.

Tata Power has shown interest to investment in gas-based power plant at Gadag, Belgaum or Davanagere in the northern region of the state.

The state government has also offered to allot land anywhere in the state for any Tata group project.

The state high level clearance committee has already cleared the proposal of Tata Elxsi to expand its software development park in Bangalore.

Representatives of Tata Sons Ltd, Tata Housing Development Company Ltd, Tata Communications, Tata Power, Tata Consulting Engineers Ltd, Tata Steel Ltd, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata International Ltd, Tata Chemicals Ltd, Tata Docomo and Indian Hotels Company Ltd also participated in the discussions.