PM Narendra Modi praises Karnataka's Koppal toy-making initiative

BENGALURU: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised Karnataka’s efforts in creating a toy manufacturing cluster in Koppal. He mentioned it during his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address, a section of which focused on the need to popularise Indian toys and games.
The Koppal cluster was an initiative of the previous coalition government of Congress-JD(S), and it was one of nine proposed by then chief minister HD Kumaraswamy.The other eight are struggling to attract investors.
After Modi’s address, chief minister BS Yediyurappa tweeted: “In line with PM @narendramodi ‘s vision of #VocalForLocal & boosting toy manufacturing, Koppala will have India’s first toy manufacturing cluster. With the ecosystem to support the toy cluster in place, this 400-acre SEZ will have top-class infra & generate 40,000 jobs in 5 years.” Modi also wrote on Twitter: “Happy to see the states responding enthusiastically to the clarion call of making India a toy production hub.” Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and others have also lauded the Koppal initiative.