Bengaluru, Feb 8 (NationPress) Karnataka Medium and Large Industries Minister M.B. Patil announced on Saturday that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi are among the dignitaries expected to grace the inaugural event preceding the Global Investors Meet (GIM) - Invest Karnataka 2025 on February 11.

The GIM is set to take place from February 12–14.

While addressing the media in Bengaluru, Patil stated: "Notable leaders, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy, and Minister of State for Labour and Employment and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Shobha Karandlaje, are anticipated to attend the inauguration and engage in the summit."

Key industrialists are expected to be present for the inauguration, he noted.

The summit aims to highlight Karnataka's strategic role as an innovation and investment hub, while encouraging global partnerships across various industries, he added.

Patil also revealed the introduction of the inaugural Invest Karnataka Awards, which will honor 14 leading industries that have significantly contributed to the state's industrial growth.

Special award categories will include Sunrise Sector Awards, recognizing advancements in aerospace and defence (both public and private), auto/EVs, and biotech and life sciences, along with awards for Highest One-Time Investment and Pioneers in Global R&D. Furthermore, the Karnataka Case Study Booklet, to be launched during the awards, will showcase transformative investments and success stories that are driving Karnataka's economic transformation.

To bolster support for small enterprises, the inaugural SME Awards will recognize over 35 exceptional businesses, with special acknowledgment for district-level excellence, women entrepreneurs, and sectoral accomplishments. Highlighting Karnataka's reputation as a global leader in innovation, more than 60 companies and startups will exhibit disruptive technologies in manufacturing, mobility, and clean energy, featuring innovations in autonomous systems, carbon nanotubes, UAVs, and advanced robotics during the Future of Innovation Expo.

In a bid to further industrial development, the government has declared the establishment of sector-specific industrial parks, including an Advanced Pharma Park in Kolar, a Solar Cell Park and Food Park in Vijayapura, a Drone Park in Chitradurga, and EV Clusters in Chikkaballapur and Dharwad, according to Minister Patil.

Additionally, the 200-acre Startup Park in Hubballi is expected to support over 400 startups, while the 1,200-acre Industrial Park in Tidagundi, Vijayapura, is projected to reaffirm Karnataka's commitment to becoming a global industrial hub, he stated.

Invest Karnataka 2025 is expected to feature more than 75 prominent speakers.

Minister Patil emphasized the significance of these initiatives, asserting that Invest Karnataka 2025 will be Karnataka's most vibrant investment summit, solidifying the state's status as India's leading investment and innovation destination.