Karnataka to become India’s go-to destination for next-gen data infrastructure: Priyank Kharge
Bengaluru(PTI): Karnataka is emerging as a leading hub for AI, analytics, data centres, cybersecurity, deep tech, and sustainable technologies, IT Minister Priyank Kharge said on Wednesday, reaffirming the state government’s commitment to fostering innovation-driven growth.
Speaking at the 8th ASSOCHAM (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India) Smart Datacenters and Cloud Infrastructure Conclave 2025, Kharge said the state aims to become India’s preferred destination for next-generation data infrastructure.
"We will be India’s go-to destination for next-generation data infrastructure, thanks to our policy foresight, talent density, and innovation ecosystem. In addition, we will adopt industry-standard sustainability metrics—and, more importantly, go beyond them," he said.
Kharge added that the state’s focus is to ensure data centres are more than just compliant.
"This means infrastructure that is energy-secure, aligned with renewable energy, and water-secure. We will aggressively reduce carbon footprints and incorporate new technologies such as liquid cooling, advanced thermal management, and other next-generation cooling solutions," he said.
"The roadmap will also focus on developing a skilled workforce for data centres," he added.
On the sidelines of the conclave, the minister held nine high-level B2B meetings with leading industry stakeholders.
The event also witnessed the e-launch of NTT Data Centres at Devanahalli.
According to a statement, Karnataka is a major hub for NTT, a USD 100-billion global conglomerate operating 160 data centres worldwide.
Globally, NTT has more than 150 MW of AI-driven data centre capacity live, while in India, it operates 22 live data centres, with several more under construction.
The company has three Bengaluru data centres with an investment of Rs 1,700 crore and has committed an additional Rs 2,400 crore for a new campus at Devanahalli.
"The centre is equipped with a dedicated 220 kV power substation to ensure uninterrupted power supply, and a marquee Bengaluru-based customer is going live this month itself," the statement added.
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India, US trade team to start three-day talks from Dec 10: Sources
New Delhi (PTI): India and the United States will commence three-day talks on the first phase of their proposed bilateral trade agreement here from December 10, sources said.
The visit is crucial as India and the US are working to finalise the first tranche of the pact.
"The three-day talks will start on December 10. It will conclude on December 12, and it is not a formal round of talks," said one of the sources.
The US team will be led by Deputy United States Trade Representative (USTR) Rick Switzer.
This visit of the US officials marks their second trip since the imposition of a 25 per cent tariff and an additional 25 per cent penalty on Indian goods entering the American market due to the purchase of Russian crude oil.
On September 16, the US officials last visited India.
On September 22, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also led an official delegation to the US for trade talks. Goyal had also visited Washington in May.
While the USA's chief negotiator for the pact is Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch, the Indian side is led by Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce Darpan Jain.
The talks are also important as Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal has recently stated that India is hopeful of reaching a framework trade deal with the US this year itself, which should address the tariff issue to the benefit of Indian exporters.
While noting that the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) will take time, Agrawal has added that India is engaged in protracted negotiations with the US on a framework trade deal that will address the reciprocal tariff challenge faced by Indian exporters.
India and the US are having two parallel negotiations -- one on a framework trade deal to address tariffs and another on a comprehensive trade deal.
In February, leaders of the two countries directed officials to negotiate an agreement.
It was planned to conclude the first tranche of the pact by the fall of 2025. So far, six rounds of negotiations have been held. The agreement aims to more than double bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030, from the current USD 191 billion.
The US remained India's largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year in 2024-25, with bilateral trade valued at USD 131.84 billion (USD 86.5 billion exports).
The US accounts for about 18 per cent of India's total goods exports, 6.22 per cent of its imports, and 10.73 per cent of its total merchandise trade.
According to exporters, the agreement is important as India's merchandise exports to the US declined for the second consecutive month in October, falling by 8.58 per cent to USD 6.3 billion due to the hefty tariffs imposed by Washington.
