Food giants lauds business friendly environment of Karnataka

Congress-ruled Karnataka government today came in for lavish praise from global food gaints like ITC, Future Group and Cargill who said the state offers investor-friendly policies and they never had to pay any bribe.
They also committed to continue their investment in the state as it provides ease access to raw materials, talent pool and necessary infrastructure.

"We are setting up units in other states, but the amount of support we are getting in Karnataka cannot be compared. They are easy to reach and things get done faster," ITC Ltd Divisional Chief Executive (foods) Hemant Malik said at the investors meet with the Karnataka government at the ongoing three-day World Food India event.

The company got into food business 15 years back and Karnataka was the first choice to set up its unit because of easy sourcing of raw materials, investor friendly climate and huge market base, he said, adding that maximum of its company's employees are based out of the state.

Cargill Foods India Head Siraj Chaudhry said the state government has put in place a mechanism for easy of doing business in an effective way that being an MNC it did not face any problem to set up a unit in Davanagere district at Rs 700 crore investment.

"For an MNC like us, setting up a corn mill unit outside Bangalore talks about easy of doing business. To set up a Rs 700 crore unit, it is a big thing that we have not paid a penny bribe," Chaudhry said.

Future Consumer CEO (food parks) Sanjay Malpani also spoke about easy of doing business and the opportunities that the state offers for investors in agro-processing sector.

MTR Foods Ltd CEO Sanjay Sharma said, "The state government is forthcoming and forward looking. Labour laws are conducive and we never had disruption."

"Overall, infrastructure is great. It is a great place to set up industry. It is a forward looking state. We have invested in the past, we have invested now and will continue to do so in future," Sharma said.