Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to inaugurate the highly anticipated Global Investors’ Meet (GIM) Invest Karnataka 2025 on February 11, 2025, according to a release from the Karnataka government.
In a press conference on Saturday, Karnataka Minister for Large and Medium Industries, MB Patil, unveiled key initiatives for the event, including the establishment of sector-specific industrial parks across the state to foster comprehensive industrial growth. These parks will focus on various industries, including pharmaceuticals, solar energy, drones, logistics, and electric vehicles.
The proposed parks include:
- Advanced Pharma Park in Srinivasapura, Kolar
- Solar Cell Manufacturing Plant in Vijayapura
- Food Park in Vijayapura
- Drone Park in Chitradurga
- Deep-Tech Park in Jangamanakote
- Mega Logistics Park at Hanumanthapur near Dabaspete
- EV Clusters in Chikkaballapura and Dharwad districts
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate the event, while Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot will flag it off. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will preside over the inaugural session at 4 PM on February 11, with Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, set to launch the revamped Single Window System. The state’s new Industrial Policy for 2025-30 will also be unveiled.
Several Union Ministers, including Prahlad Joshi, HD Kumaraswamy, Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal, Ashwini Vaishnav, Shobha Karandlaje, and V Somanna, will attend between February 12-14. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will participate in the concluding ceremony.
Patil revealed that Karnataka expects investment proposals worth Rs 10 lakh crore, with a target to achieve at least 70% of these commitments. Additionally, the event will see the announcement of a 200-acre Startup Park near Hubballi Airport, designed to house over 400 startups, and a 1,200-acre Solar Cell Manufacturing and Agro-Tech Park in Tidagundi, Vijayapura district.
Around 60 leading startups and industry innovators will showcase advancements in fields like autonomous systems, carbon nanotubes, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and advanced robotics. The event will also feature 19 country partners, with 9 dedicated country pavilions promoting bilateral investment and trade discussions. More than 10 country-specific sessions will focus on sustainable growth, Karnataka’s role in global supply chains, renewable energy, healthcare, and other key sectors.
The Invest Karnataka Awards will recognize 14 industries for their outstanding contributions to the state’s economy. Special awards will honor sectors like Aerospace & Defense, Electric Vehicles, and Biotech & Life Sciences, along with recognitions for “Highest One-Time Investment” and “Pioneers in Global R&D.”
On February 13, the first-ever SME Awards will be presented to over 35 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for their contributions to industrial growth, innovation, and employment. There will also be district-specific awards, as well as recognition for women entrepreneurs and sector excellence.
The VentuRISE initiative will distribute $300,000 across nine awards, with the top three startups receiving $50,000, $30,000, and $20,000, respectively.
The summit will host over 25 technical sessions, 10+ country sessions, and panels under VentuRISE and SME Connect. Notable discussions include strategies for sustaining India’s economic growth, innovations in logistics, and resilience-building for nations. Key speakers include Anand Mahindra, Sajjan Jindal, Sebastian Thrun (Founder, GoogleX), Ann Dunkin (CIO, US Department of Energy), Kiran Rao (Filmmaker), Geetanjali Kirloskar, and Kiran Mazumdar Shaw (Founder & Chairperson, Biocon).
Minister Patil emphasized that this year’s GIM Invest Karnataka will feature double the number of sessions compared to previous editions, aiming to further establish Karnataka as a key player in the global investment landscape.
The press conference was attended by key officials including S. Selvakumar, Principal Secretary; Gunjan Krishna, Commissioner, Department of Industries; and Mahesh, CEO, KIADB.
