Karnataka is looking to attract fresh investments into its industrial sector through an investment roadshow in Mumbai, where the state government held discussions with several leading companies across manufacturing, engineering, consumer goods and technology sectors. 
As part of the roadshow held in the past week, Karnataka Minister for Large and Medium Industries M B Patil met JSW Group Chairman Sajjan Jindal and Joint Managing Director Jayant Acharya to discuss the company's future investment plans in the state. 
Following the meeting, Patil said the JSW Group considers Karnataka its preferred destination for future expansion. He added that the company, which has already invested around INR 1.30 lakh crore in Karnataka over the past three decades, is now planning to invest an additional INR 1.20 lakh crore over the next five years. He further stated that the Karnataka government would extend all necessary support for the proposed expansion. 
The minister noted that JSW has built a strong industrial presence in Karnataka, particularly in the Ballari and Vijayanagara regions, where the group has played an important role in driving industrial development. The company has major operations in steel, energy, cement and infrastructure, with its Vijayanagar steel plant being among the largest integrated steel manufacturing facilities in India. 
According to a statement issued by the minister's office, discussions were also held with representatives from around 10 leading companies, including Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Bisleri International, Raymond Lifestyle Limited, Tarq Semiconductors, part of the Hiranandani Group, Sanofi Consumer Healthcare India (Opella), Magnum, Balu Forge and Max Aerospace. 
During the meetings, Bisleri International conveyed its plans to expand its manufacturing capacity in Karnataka. The proposed expansion is expected to create around 2,000 additional jobs. The state government encouraged the company to evaluate Vijayapura and Chamarajanagar as potential locations, highlighting their long-term water availability for industrial operations. 
Raymond Lifestyle Limited also shared its plans to expand its jeans manufacturing business. State officials suggested that the company consider Ballari or Vijayapura for the project because of their established textile ecosystem, availability of raw materials and better market connectivity. 
Larsen & Toubro informed the state government about its plans to enter the industrial robotics segment and establish a semiconductor chip design centre in Bengaluru to serve global markets. The company also discussed plans to develop a dedicated research and innovation park focused on the electronics sector. Patil said the government would facilitate high-voltage and electronic testing facilities if the company proceeds with the proposed projects. 
Tarq Semiconductors expressed interest in investing in Karnataka's semiconductor, artificial intelligence and data centre sectors. The company also indicated its intention to set up a compound semiconductor fabrication facility in the state, reflecting Karnataka's growing focus on developing an advanced semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. 
The discussions also included TCPL Packaging Limited, which is exploring opportunities to establish a films and laminates manufacturing facility in Karnataka to expand its presence in the fast-moving consumer goods packaging segment. 
According to the minister, the meetings with all participating companies focused on attracting new investments, expanding manufacturing capacity, creating employment opportunities, strengthening research and development activities, developing data centres and ensuring the availability of suitable land and water resources for future industrial projects. 
The investment outreach comes as Karnataka continues to compete with states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Telangana to attract large-scale investments in manufacturing, electronics, semiconductors and emerging technologies. The state has remained one of India's leading investment destinations due to its strong industrial base, skilled workforce, established technology ecosystem and improving infrastructure. 
Source PTI