Karnataka Minister Pitches KWIN City to Luxembourg, Plans Semiconductor Roadshow in Japan

Source: The Hindu Bureau

Luxembourg Delegation Explores Investment Opportunities in Karnataka

Ahead of Luxembourg’s Deputy Prime Minister Xavier Bettel’s visit to Bengaluru from September 7 to 9, Christian Biever, Ambassador of Luxembourg to India, and Maxime Victor, Counsellor at the Embassy of Luxembourg, met Karnataka Minister for Large and Medium Industries M.B. Patil on Monday to discuss investment opportunities and bilateral collaboration.

The meeting focused on strengthening Karnataka-Luxembourg ties in investment, innovation, and technology. According to the Minister, the delegation acknowledged Karnataka’s innovation ecosystem, industry-friendly environment, and skilled workforce. They were briefed on investment opportunities in KWIN City, the industrial township being developed between Dabaspete and Doddaballapura.

Mr. Patil invited Luxembourg’s companies, universities, and innovation agencies to partner in the KWIN City project. He also highlighted:

• The presence of Luxembourg-based Ceratizit, which manufactures advanced cutting materials in Karnataka.
• Luxembourg’s expertise in steel, automotive, engineering, clean energy, industrial equipment, and space technology.
• Bengaluru-headquartered Infosys and Wipro, which have operations in Luxembourg, reflecting expanding economic engagement between the two regions.

Outreach Programme in Japan

Separately, Mr. Patil announced that Karnataka would organise an investment outreach programme in Fukuoka, Japan, to attract Tier-2 semiconductor companies and strengthen collaboration with the Japanese semiconductor ecosystem.

The announcement followed his meeting with C. Ramkumar, Consul General of India in Fukuoka. Discussions focused on:

• Karnataka’s policy support and semiconductor ecosystem.
• Research and development capabilities.
• The extensive network of Global Capability Centres (GCCs), which have generated growing interest among Japanese companies.

The Minister said Karnataka’s talent pool, supported by institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science and other leading research institutions, provides a strong foundation for industry-academia collaboration. He added that greater technology partnerships and investments from Japanese companies would further strengthen the State’s semiconductor ecosystem and support economic growth.