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Europe keen on investing in Karnataka, claims Patel

Karnataka Chief Minister J H Patel on Sunday claimed that four European countries had evinced keen interest to invest in the state, particularly in Bangalore, as it was emerging as a global player in the software field.

Talking to newsmen in Bangalore on Sunday, a day after his arrival from a fortnight-long tour of France, Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland, he said the four countries likely to adopt the Euro currency from January next were expected to invest in the state. It was very difficult to quantify the amount but they were interested in investing in various fields, he added.

Patel, who held as many as 26 meetings, said France and Switzerland were more forthcoming and a good number of Indo-French and Indo-Swiss joint ventures could be expected in the next few months.

The high-level delegation, led by Patel and comprising his cabinet colleague M C Nanaiah and senior officers, held talks with Vivendi group and Aero Spatiale of France, Volvo of Sweden, and Nestle and Atlas Capco of Switzerland.

Besides, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Swiss Organisation for Facilitating Investments and the Karnataka State Industrial Investment Development Corporation to co-operate and work together to promote Indo-Swiss joint ventures.

The delegation also had a meeting with the Industrialisation Fund for Developing Countries, a self-governing investment fund in Denmark.

UNI