Siddaramaiah seeks partnership with global industry leaders

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, participating in the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting at Dalian in China, is exploring partnerships in interactions with global leaders, officials said Thursday.

"The chief minister attended the plenary of the WEF annual meeting, unveiled by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in the presence of about 2,000 delegates from over 90 countries, including heads of state and ministers," an official said.

The three-day meeting which began Wednesday, is dubbed "Summer Davos" and brings together thought leaders, policy-makers, decision-makers and chief executives of multi-nationals to deliberate on global socio-economic issues and problems.

The forum's new champions are companies, young global leaders, scientists, geeks, social entrepreneurs and global shapers.

Siddaramaiah, who is on a week-long overseas trip for the first time since becoming  chief minister in May, also met Japanese Science and Technology Minister Hakubun Shimomura at the Dalian conference centre, and discussed partnerships in the IT space and education sector.

"Being in the forefront of hardware and software technologies, Japan and Karnataka can jointly promote the IT and electronics sector. Both officials also decided to explore additional funding from Japan for infrastructure corridors and high speed rail projects," the official told IANS here.

The chief minister invited Shimomura to visit Bangalore for a first-hand view of the phenomenal growth of the software industry in India's tech hub.

Siddaramaiah also called on WEF Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab at the mega event venue and discussed expansion of the forum's activities in the state.

Accompanied by a 22-member team, including a 15-member group of business delegates in formal suits, the chief minister visited the Dalian port and evinced keen interest in its operations. The chief minister visited the control room of the port, and  authorities made a presentation on port management.

The Dalian port has capacity to handle 1.7 million tonnes of food grains with hi-tech storage facility and rail connectivity.

Later in the day, the chief minister went to International Metal Working Company (IMC) in the new development area of the port city.

"As IMC has a subsidiary in Bangalore -- Taegu Tech Ltd -- the chief minister told the company management to expand capacity of its India operations," the official said.

US multinational Berkshire Hathway fully acquired IMC recently by picking up 20 percent share six years after it bought 80 percent of the equity.

As a global player, IMC has 140 subsidiaries in 65 countries the world over.
Siddaramaiah also took time from his busy schedule to visit the wind turbine manufacturing facility of Sinovel Wind Group at Ganjing Zi district in the Liaoning province of mainland China.

"The chief minister discussed with the company officials on the knowhow (technology) to further harness the wind energy potential in the state, which is estimated to be about 11,000 mw and promote clean energy," the official said.