Karnataka Woos Czech Investments Beyond Bengaluru, Focus on Energy, Aerospace and Manufacturing

Bengaluru, Oct 14 : Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday urged Czech companies to explore investment opportunities across the state beyond Bengaluru, highlighting energy, aerospace, defence, electric vehicles and advanced manufacturing as key sectors for strengthening bilateral economic ties.

During a meeting with Czech Republic Deputy Prime Minister and Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlicek at Vidhana Soudha, Shivakumar said Karnataka offered significant investment opportunities across multiple districts, supported by its industrial ecosystem, natural resources and investment facilitation mechanisms.

“Karnataka will be a long-term partner of the Czech Republic, and Czech companies should invest in various districts of Karnataka instead of limiting themselves to Bengaluru,” he said.

The outreach is part of the state government's efforts to expand industrial development beyond the capital and attract investments that bring advanced technologies, strengthen domestic supply chains, generate skilled employment and boost exports.

Energy emerged as a key area of potential cooperation, with Shivakumar highlighting Karnataka's solar and hydroelectric power infrastructure and growing energy requirements. He specifically invited Czech energy major EPH to explore opportunities in the state, noting that the company did not have a presence in India.

The Chief Minister also identified automobile components, electric vehicles, next-generation mobility, testing facilities and specialised manufacturing as promising areas for Czech investment.

In the aerospace sector, he referred to a proposed memorandum of understanding involving Gopalan Aerospace and expressed hope that the initiative would lead to broader industrial collaboration between Karnataka and the Czech Republic.

Shivakumar also urged AGROFERT to consider investing in Karnataka and pointed to potential cooperation with Czech companies such as Škoda Auto and Doosan Škoda Power in manufacturing, engineering, sourcing and research.

Citing the partnership between Tata AutoComp and the Škoda Group in railway components, he said similar collaborations could combine Czech engineering expertise with India's manufacturing capabilities.

To facilitate investments, the state government would extend support through Invest Karnataka, Karnataka Udyog Mitra, the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board and the single-window clearance mechanism, he said.

“Our priority is to attract investments that bring technology, strengthen local industry, create quality employment and support exports,” Shivakumar said, expressing hope that the Czech delegation's visit would result in concrete investment proposals and follow-up action.

Beyond industrial cooperation, he called for stronger links between Czech technical universities and research institutions and their counterparts in Karnataka to promote applied research, skill development and the commercialisation of emerging technologies.

The India-Czech Republic Strategic Partnership on Innovation, agreed upon in January 2024, provides a framework for cooperation in research, emerging technologies, industrial innovation and start-up linkages, he noted.

The Czech delegation, visiting India from October 11 to 16, includes Deputy Foreign Minister Marie Chatardova, senior officials from the foreign affairs and industry and trade ministries, diplomatic representatives in India, and Jan Rafaj, president of the Confederation of Industry and Transport of the Czech Republic.

The key challenge will be to translate the investment outreach into firm commitments, particularly in districts beyond Bengaluru, and ensure that the proposed partnerships deliver technology transfer, skilled employment and new manufacturing capabilities.

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