Karnataka Minister Confirms Intentional Absence from Davos Summit
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Synopsis
Bengaluru, Jan 24 (NationPress) The Siddaramaiah administration of Karnataka confirms that the decision to not participate in the World Economic Forum in Davos was intentional, addressing the backlash faced for this absence.
Key Takeaways
- Karnataka's absence at Davos was a deliberate choice.
- The Global Investors Meet aims to attract significant investments.
- Past commitments by the BJP government were not fulfilled.
- Power struggles within Congress are hindering representation.
- India's ambitions for development were showcased at Davos 2025.
Bengaluru, Jan 24 (NationPress) After receiving backlash regarding Karnataka's absence at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Siddaramaiah administration has clarified that the choice to abstain was intentional.
Speaking to the press at his residence in Bengaluru on Friday, state Minister for Large and Medium Industries M.B. Patil remarked, “The state has intentionally opted not to engage in the Davos Summit this year. Attending the summit, endorsing agreements there, and subsequently inviting the same firms here to finalize identical pacts leads to unnecessary confusion. To prevent this, we have chosen to forgo participation in the Davos Summit this year.”
“Global corporations will join the Global Investors Meet scheduled in Bengaluru from February 11 to 14. This event is anticipated to attract investments ranging from Rs 8 to Rs 10 lakh crore to the state,” he expressed with optimism.
“Among the agreements we plan to finalize, at least three-fourths must convert into actual investments. Otherwise, it will all be futile. Hence, we are adopting a practical approach. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has echoed this sentiment,” he noted.
“In 2022, the BJP government held an investors' meet, claiming investments worth Rs 50 lakh crore would materialize. It also projected Rs 2.40 lakh crore would be funneled into the green energy sector. However, not a single rupee came to fruition,” he highlighted.
“We lack the infrastructure to support such massive investments in the green energy sector. Yet, the BJP government made exaggerated claims. Such errors will not be repeated this time,” Patil affirmed.
The Karnataka BJP on Wednesday criticized the infighting within the Congress party for leaving Karnataka unrepresented at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
In response to the absence of a state representative at this significant international event, the Leader of Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly, R. Ashoka stated, “While Chief Ministers from all major states are in Davos advocating for investments in their regions, neither Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah nor any of his cabinet members are inclined to represent the state on a vital global platform.”
“Due to the mysterious power-sharing arrangement, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his entire cabinet, including Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, are mired in power politics and one-upmanship, which has entirely hampered Karnataka's economy and governance,” Ashoka criticized.
“Senior leader Sonia Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge are eager to maintain power in Karnataka solely as they require an ATM to sustain the Congress party politically, not due to a desire to serve the people of Karnataka. This is the crux of the problem,” Ashoka asserted.
At the Davos 2025 event, India’s ‘Team Bharat’ revealed its ambition of becoming a developed nation by 2047, focusing on inclusive growth, sustainability, and technological innovation. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, and other dignitaries participated in the meeting.
