<p>Commerce and Industries Department Principal Secretary V P Baligar said on Wednesday that there was an increasing demand from MSMEs for such a special committee exclusively to address their issues. The decision taken in 2009 to set up a Maritime Board for development of ports is also taking shape and it would become functional “very soon.” The primary role of the Board would be to develop 10 minor ports and one major, as per the provisions made in the recent budget, he said. <br /><br />Speaking at an interaction with the members of Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) Baligar pointed out that the pipeline project of Gas Authority of India Limited will begin this December and is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.<br /><br />He said the land for the project was being acquired by the revenue department and about 20 locations have already been identified for building booster stations and offices. The gas, he said, would aid the State in generating 12,000 MW gas-based power and also to meet domestic gas needs.<br /><br />Baligar revealed that the Chief Minister has taken special interest in developing a world class convention centre in Whitefield, Bangalore and that 50 acres have already been acquired for the purpose. Three leading architects in the City have come forward for the project and two of them have already been shortlisted.<br /><br />The government has surpassed its target of beginning the work on about 100 projects inked at the Global Investors Meet (GIM). “The work has begun on about 137 projects with an investment of Rs 2.43 lakh crore and more are in the pipeline. About 222 new projects have been cleared after the GIM, which entails an investment of about Rs 90,000 crore. Projects totalling to Rs 35,000 cr investment will be cleared in the forthcoming meeting,” he said.<br /><br />Self-employment<br /><br />Baligar said that a unique programme titled ‘Udyami Aagu Udyoga Kodu’ will be launched on November 1 to promote self-employment in the State. A brainchild of the Large and Medium Scale Industries Minister Murugesh R Nirani, the programme is aimed at MBA graduates to start businesses.</p>
<p>Commerce and Industries Department Principal Secretary V P Baligar said on Wednesday that there was an increasing demand from MSMEs for such a special committee exclusively to address their issues. The decision taken in 2009 to set up a Maritime Board for development of ports is also taking shape and it would become functional “very soon.” The primary role of the Board would be to develop 10 minor ports and one major, as per the provisions made in the recent budget, he said. <br /><br />Speaking at an interaction with the members of Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) Baligar pointed out that the pipeline project of Gas Authority of India Limited will begin this December and is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.<br /><br />He said the land for the project was being acquired by the revenue department and about 20 locations have already been identified for building booster stations and offices. The gas, he said, would aid the State in generating 12,000 MW gas-based power and also to meet domestic gas needs.<br /><br />Baligar revealed that the Chief Minister has taken special interest in developing a world class convention centre in Whitefield, Bangalore and that 50 acres have already been acquired for the purpose. Three leading architects in the City have come forward for the project and two of them have already been shortlisted.<br /><br />The government has surpassed its target of beginning the work on about 100 projects inked at the Global Investors Meet (GIM). “The work has begun on about 137 projects with an investment of Rs 2.43 lakh crore and more are in the pipeline. About 222 new projects have been cleared after the GIM, which entails an investment of about Rs 90,000 crore. Projects totalling to Rs 35,000 cr investment will be cleared in the forthcoming meeting,” he said.<br /><br />Self-employment<br /><br />Baligar said that a unique programme titled ‘Udyami Aagu Udyoga Kodu’ will be launched on November 1 to promote self-employment in the State. A brainchild of the Large and Medium Scale Industries Minister Murugesh R Nirani, the programme is aimed at MBA graduates to start businesses.</p>
