Karnataka signs MoUs worth ₹22,000 crore at WEF Davos; Web Werks to set up data centre park

In a major investment, an MoU was signed with Web Werks to set up a 100 MW data centre park worth ₹20,000 crore in Karnataka.

BySouth First Desk

Published Jan 17, 2024 | 3:29 PM ⚊UpdatedJan 17, 2024 | 3:58 PM

Minister MB Patil with the state delegation at Davos. (Supplied)

Minister MB Patil with the state delegation at Davos. (Supplied)

The Karnataka government delegation, headed by Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development MB Patil, signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with seven companies, including Web Werks, on Tuesday, 16 January, the second day of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The MoUs signed with global industry leaders Microsoft, Web Werks, Hitachi, and four other companies are expected to propel the state into a new era of technological advancement, infrastructure development, and economic growth of the state.

The primary objective was to establish cutting-edge infrastructure, capitalising on the robust existing ecosystem, and the highly attractive market dynamics in the region. Patil also assured them of the government’s complete support and cooperation in their future ventures in Karnataka.

MoU with Microsoft

Microsoft signed an MoU with the Karnataka government on working towards skilling and governance initiatives.

The MoU outlines a digital skilling initiative aimed at enhancing livelihood opportunities for under-served youth in India, with a focus on young girls, women, job seekers, individuals with disabilities, nano-entrepreneurs, and those in regions with low workforce participation, aspirational districts, remote, and tribal areas.

Microsoft’s digital skilling programme, named Microsoft RISE, will provide 70 hours of virtual instructor-led training on digital productivity, employability, entrepreneurship, and communication skills through its nonprofit partner AISECT.

Also Read: Invest in Telangana: Adani Group announces investments of ₹12,400 crore

Web Werks, Honeywell

In yet another major investment plan, an MoU was signed with Web Werks to set up a 100 MW data centre park worth ₹20,000 crore in Karnataka.

Calling the investment by Web Werks a giant leap in the infrastructure of the state, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah welcomed the investment from the company in a post on X.

Additionally, Nikhil Rathi, Founder-CEO of Web Werks, expressed ambition to establish a cutting-edge connectivity hub, featuring state-of-the-art hyper-scaler data centres in Bengaluru.

On the other hand, Anant Maheshwari, CEO and President of Honeywell, is looking to extend its applications to citizen services such as traffic management, and monitoring government operational services like waste management, among others.

Hitachi to focus on ‘Make in India’

Hitachi, headquartered in Bengaluru, emphasises on a “Make for India in India” approach.

In the MoU signed with the Karnataka government, the company will focus on economic development through work in the rural sector, healthcare, education and Panchayat E-Governance to create opportunities for the people of Karnataka.

During the discussions with Alistair Dormer, Chair of the Board, Hitachi Energy of Hitachi, it was announced that the company plans to start with M-Star Telemedicine Deployment through Hitachi MGRM Net.

Additionally, four other companies have entered into MoUs with the Karnataka government, collectively valued at over ₹2,000 crore.

Lulu, INOX to expand

Major chain Lulu Group is set to venture into food processing in the Vijayapura district, with plans to invest ₹300 crore in a food processing plant dedicated to exports.

The Lulu Group already sources a substantial quantity of fruits and vegetables, amounting to over 200 tonnes monthly from Karnataka. Looking ahead, the Lulu Group plans to enhance its export capacity by focusing on the northern Karnataka region.

The Managing Director of Lulu Group, MA Yusuff Ali, participated in the discussions.

Siddharth Jain, Managing Director of the Inox Group, said that Bengaluru stands out for hosting the highest number of language movies screened, exemplifying the rich cultural and linguistic diversity inherent in the city.

The potential venture in Karnataka, with its vibrant cinematic landscape, offers Inox Air Products an opportunity to contribute to and thrive in a market that embraces and celebrates cultural multiplicity.

Inox has already applied to set up an industrial gas manufacturing facility worth ₹150 crore to supply to electronics manufacturers in the region of North Bengaluru.

Also Read: Revanth Reddy kicks off ‘Invest in Telangana’ campaign at WEF

Pharma, Agriculture sectors

Takeda Pharma is planning to undergo a digital transformation and is setting up a Global Innovation Center in Bengaluru. They are currently searching for suitable locations for their campus. The company has revealed its intention to create 1,000 high-profile digital roles in this new centre.

The Karnataka government promised to provide valuable connections in medical research and biotechnology, aligning with Takeda’s objectives.

BL Agro, based in Uttar Pradesh, plans to set up sorting, grading, and processing plants in North Karnataka. Vijayapura has been identified as a strategic location due to its essential infrastructure, including land, water, power, and a focus on exports.

Nestlé, with 1,800 employees in Nanjangud, plays a vital role in the coffee business. The company plans to expand production to 22,000 tons, collaborating with 5,000 farmers and operating a demo farm for coffee plantation training.

Multi-national companies 

In an ambitious move, the Research and Development (R&D) division of Sony, focused on agriculture, climate, and AI research, is set to fortify its operations in Bengaluru. The ongoing endeavours include groundbreaking work in GenAI and collaborations with innovative startups.

Dr Hiroaki Kitano, CEO of Sony AI Inc, expressed keen interest in collaborating with the Gaming Center of Excellence planned by the ITBT department, recognizing the immense potential in such partnerships.

Furthermore, there are plans to establish a GPU cluster, leveraging the expertise of premier institutions like IISc and IIT, outlining a comprehensive vision for substantial progress in the outlined research domains.

Take advantage of the state’s broad network of 800 vocational training providers, delivering 500 courses. With Karnataka’s technological expertise and top-notch facilities, the southern state also became the perfect destination for HP Inc. to foster innovation and achieve growth.

Volvo Group

Karnataka, which is at the forefront of Clean Mobility initiatives, has sought Volvo’s participation in cars, buses, and trucks.

Volvo is actively engaged in hydrogen research, particularly focusing on fuel cells onboard vehicles, with ongoing tests to convert vehicles from internal combustion engines in India. Future endeavours involve the introduction of LNG with a dual-source system for buses, providing a range of 500 km to 700 km.

The minister said that the Karnataka government is committed to facilitating policy support for widespread LNG vehicle adoption.

The meeting concluded with Volvo expressing appreciation for Karnataka’s efforts in energy storage and renewable energy installations, and the company is excited to share global experiences to contribute to shaping the future of the automobile industry.

Tillman Global

Tillman Global expressed their interest in exploring investments in India, particularly in the state of Karnataka, with a focus on building telecommunications infrastructure.

The company aims to leverage the strong existing ecosystem and the attractive market conditions in the region.

Additionally, Tillman Group is considering solar in-house preference for data centres, and discussions were held on captive power procurement for upcoming investment plans in India. A market study is currently underway for Tillman Group to inform their investment decisions.

Furthermore, the meeting highlighted the group’s interest in charging infrastructure for European truck manufacturers, with a larger opportunity anticipated in the commercial vehicles sector. The ambitious investment plan over the next decade is expected to amount to $25-30 billions.

Coinbase

Coinbase, established by Bryan Armstrong as the largest listed digital asset web3 player globally, outlined plans for international expansion, with a specific focus on India and Karnataka. The company is excited about the disruptive potential in the region, especially considering the developer community, Gen Z population, and the robust technological infrastructure.

Coinbase expressed interest in collaborating with the Government of Karnataka to train individuals in Web 3.0.

The group also highlighted the significant application of blockchain technology in payments, noting an uptick in adoption following government interventions worldwide.

Recognizing the importance of introducing civil servants to blockchain technology, Coinbase proposed collaboration through a blockchain summit for knowledge dissemination and mutual understanding.

Finance dept ACS LK Atheeq, Industry dept Principle Secretary Selva Kumar, ITBT secretary Ek Rup Kour and other officers were present on the occasion.

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