NRI Forum urged to invest in Karnataka
dubai — The newly-formed Karnataka NRI Forum UAE will get all legal and financial support from the government, the chief minister of the investment-friendly south Indian state said.
Inaugurating the NRI Forum in Dubai, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah pledged his support to ensure that the NRI body would succeed in its mission of acting as a bridge between the non-resident Indian diaspora and the state government.
He urged the forum to become a role model for others by acting as a catalyst in making the state consolidate its position as a vibrant investor-friendly state.
He said under his leadership, Karnataka has become a complaint-free state. “Our priority is to address the grievances of the people. Karnataka now has become the number one investment-friendly state for Indians and also number two for foreign direct investment,” he added.
The chief minister also outlined his government’s plan to issue special identity cards to NRIs from Karnataka and said the ID cards would help them avail of certain benefits in their home state. He also briefed the gathering on his government’s pro-people policies and reforms over the past four years.
Present at the inaugural event were Indian Consul-General to Dubai Vipul; Karnataka Minister of Food and Civil Supplies U.T. Khader; Dr Arathi Krishna, vicepresident of NRI Forum; Dr B.R. Shetty, honorary president, and Praveen Kumar Shetty, president of the NRI Forum.
“I feel very happy that Kannadigas in the UAE under the leadership of Praveen Shetty have taken up this initiative in forming the first Karnataka NRI Forum in the UAE. Kannadigas residing outside India should always remember that they are Indians first and then Kannadigas,” the chief minister said.
Siddaramaiah said he was able to successfully fulfill all the 168 election manifesto promises much before the end of his tenure as chief minister.
B.R. Shetty urged non-resident Kannadigas to invest in Karnataka and said that he had already invested in several ventures, including Jog Falls tourism development and a major hospital in Udupi, and also dialysis centres in all hospitals throughout Karnataka. He said the Abu Dhabi government is very keen on investing in Karnataka.
Minister Khader promised full cooperation to the NRI Forum and said that his government would address grievances brought to his attention by NRIs with due importance and without any delay.
Kumar Shetty said the formation of the forum had been inspired by the success of a similar organisation in Kerala for non resident Keralites. He assured that the forum would be effective in addressing the grievances and concerns of Kannadigas.
He said one of the prime objectives of the forum is to encourage NRIs to invest in industries, projects and research in Karnataka, develop programmes in social, economic spheres and promote the well-being and welfare of NRI Kannadigas in the UAE.