Food entrepreneurs interested in investing in Karnataka

Future Group, ITC, Kargil Foods India and other food companies are interested in investing in State as government is investor friendly and there is no kickback culture here. The companies also appreciated the quality raw materials, talents and basic amenities available in the State and expressed their interest in investing in the State. Karnataka was the first choice for ITC as the raw materials, basic resources, investor friendly atmosphere and a big market is available in Karnataka.

Future Group, ITC, Kargil Foods India and such other food companies are interested in investing in State as Siddaramaiah’s government is investor friendly and there is no kickback culture here, reported Kannada Prabha.

The companies also appreciated the quality raw materials, talents and basic amenities available in the State and expressed their interest in investing in the State. They were speaking at the 3 days World India Food Fair in Delhi started on Friday. Karnataka participated in the fair in a big way with Heavy Industries Minister R V Deshapande and Agriculture Minister Krishna Byregowda invited as guests of honour.

A separate investors’ meet was organised at the fair.  ITC Company’s CEO (Food) Hemanth Mallik said ITC has been setting up food units at various states but the support they are getting at Karnataka cannot even be compared with other states. Works in Karnataka is easy and speedy he said.

ITC started its activities in Karnataka 15 years ago. Karnataka was the first choice as the raw materials, basic resources, investor friendly atmosphere and a big market is available in Karnataka. He also said majority of their employees are from Karnataka.

Siraj Choudhuri of Kargil Foods India said Karnataka government is investor friendly. A multinational company like ours had absolutely no problem in setting up a maize unit in Davanagere at Rs 700 crore investment.  We did not give a single paise bribe he said.

Sanjay Malpani, CEO (Fod) of Future Group also spoke about the investor friendly atmosphere in Karnataka and opportunities for agriculture processing entrepreneurs. MTR Foods CEO Sanjay Sharma said the labour laws in Karnataka are very good. We did not have any problem. It is the best place for investors. Basic resources are very good. We will invest more in future, he said.