Bengaluru, Feb 26 (KNN) Potraying Karnataka as a land of opportunities with assured returns on investments, the state Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy invited ASEAN businesses to invest in the southern state in a big way.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the three-day ASEAN Chambers of Commerce & Industry Business Meet 2019 at Vidhana Soudha here.

He said "Karnataka has immense potential which is still unmapped and unexplored. Hence, this summit will help explore this potential for the development of the country as a whole which in turn will contribute to the making of 'New India' that has emerged as the world's leading investment destination."

Organised by the Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), the 3-day summit has over 200 members of Asean, Asian-plus countries and global industry captains and policy makers on a single platform for mutual benefits.

The summit aims to explore the scope for business opportunities in the Karnataka region of India from the fields of Health & Pharmaceuticals, Ayurveda & Yoga, Herbal Tourism, Startups, Textiles & Garments, Gems & Jewelry, Education & Skill Development, Fintech, Logistics, Medical Electronics, Aquaculture & Fisheries, Infrastructure, Information Technology and Renewable Energy and many more.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor of Karnataka, Vajubhai Vala, said, "I am excited to present the first ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry Business Meet which is set to become a platform of choice for global investors and business leaders from across ASEAN countries. Our Government is focused on making Karnataka a global hub for innovation and FKCCI is playing a critical role in shaping the innovation ecosystem in India."

On the occasion, Principal Secretary, Department of Commerce & Industries and Department of IT, BT and Science & Technology, Gaurav Gupta, said, "India is looking further to deepen our engagement and relationship with the ASEAN countries, and this is a great opportunity to host them in Bengaluru which serves as a destination for innovators and startups."

President of FKCCI, Bengaluru Sudhakar S. Shetty said, "FKCCI has always been playing a catalytic role to strengthen the commercial prospects of the state and the country. We are certain that this summit will create a positive impact on trade and commerce." 

A major highlight of this summit would be the Global Leaders Conclave which will be a power packed session with ASEAN plus countries heads / Global Industry Captains / Policy Makers coming together on a single platform to throw light on the challenges ahead, uncover potential opportunities and discuss the means to achieve exponential growth. (KNN/YV)