14 lakh jobs created in Karnataka in four years: Minister

Karnataka has created about 13.91 lakh jobs in the last four years and is close to achieving the state government's target of generating 15 lakh jobs by 2019, state Large and Medium Industries Minister R.V. Deshpande said on Thursday.

"In the past four years, Karnataka has generated about 12.03 lakh jobs in the micro, small and medium enterprises sector and about 1.88 lakh jobs in the large industries sector. Another 5.79 lakh jobs are in the pipeline," he said at the Vendor Development and Investors Summit 2017 being held here.

The state aims to create more jobs in "every possible" way, he added.

Terming Karnataka as one of the "fastest growing" states in India, Deshpande said: "People- centric transparent policies and hassle-free investment procedures are making the state as a global investment and manufacturing hub."

The state is also working to become home to the world's largest solar park, currently being constructed in Pavagada in Tumkur district. The 13,000-acres Pavagada Solar Park is expected to generate about 2,700 MW electricity by 2018.

"Karnataka has been the leader in providing conducive policy environment for the industries and in investing in technology and centres of excellence. We are the only state in the country to have a sector specific aerospace policy," Deshpande, who also holds the Infrastructure Development portfolio, told investors and vendors at the summit's inaugural event.

The entrepreneurs of Karnataka have an opportunity to create many jobs, said Biocon Ltd Chairman and Managing Director Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.

"In times of jobless growth, the entrepreneurs of Karnataka have the opportunity to create a large number of jobs. We are the start-up capital of the country. We have been successful in creating new age jobs," she said.

Leading Swedish home furnishings retailer IKEA, which is planning to set up its third store in the country in Bengaluru, after Hyderabad and Mumbai, is working to employ more workers and suppliers from the state, said IKEA India CEO Peter Betzel.

"The Bengaluru store will directly employ 800 people out of which 50 per cent will be women. We are keen to open three stores in the city in the near future.

"We have had close to 50 suppliers for over 40 years in Karnataka, with 45,000 people working in the supply chain. We are looking to source more from India, especially Karnataka," he added.

T. Suvarna Raju, Managing Director of state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, said that the city-based aerospace and defence company plans to make 1,000 helicopters in the next decade.

"We have the highest expectation from vendors for the large volumes of aircraft to be produced. In a milestone, a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was fired successfully (from a fighter aircraft) on Wednesday. Many partners from Bengaluru have made many parts of this 2,500 kg missile," he said.

The two-day summit which began on Thursday is expected to witness the participation of over 2,000 industry leaders, over 600 MSMEs in sectors such as agriculture and food processing, innovation and manufacturing start-ups, aerospace and defence equipment among others.

The event will also host seminars on growth opportunities and trends in the industry sectors.