Karnataka keen to strengthen ties with Netherlands, says Deputy CM DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar Monday said Karnataka holds a very strong relationship with the Netherlands and the state government is keen to strengthen its ties with the Dutch nation. According to an official statement, addressing a delegation from Netherlands at Vidhanasoudha, Shivakumar said Dutch businesses are among the forerunners of foreign investors in Karnataka.
"Karnataka is home to 9 per cent of Dutch investments in India. We are home to 25 plus Dutch companies. Karnataka is also home to Global in-house Centres of Shell and Philips too. There are more than 200 Dutch companies operating in the state with investment worth over USD 1 billion," it said.
The Deputy CM noted that Karnataka is India's leading investment destination, with multiple accolades to itself. The state has consistently ranked first in attracting investments since 2016 and leads the nation in coffee production.
"We are very keen to further strengthen this partnership by leveraging the existing synergies with Karnataka and Netherlands. We share many similarities across major industries like food processing, Biotech and Pharma, Innovation and R&D to name a few," he added.
Karnataka dominates electronics design in India, with the state's ESDM (Karnataka Electronics System Design & Manufacturing Policy) offering the highest incentives in the country, the statement said.
"We have also taken multiple bold measures to enhance our offering to Dutch companies We have a dedicated Industrial Policy that focuses on key areas like Artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and R&D, aimed at becoming an integral part of the global value chain.
The policy also offers attractive financial incentives, such as Investment promotion subsidy of up to 2.25 per cent of annual turnover for 6-10 years," the statement read.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte said at the CEO round table meeting that the Dutch nation is keen to enhance economic cooperation with Karnataka.
Rutte, who participated in the G20 summit hosted by India in New Delhi on September 9 and 10, visited Bengaluru as part of an economic mission.
"Netherlands aims to provide Dutch companies operating in Karnataka an opportunity to engage in discussions on strategic matters of mutual interest, focusing on economic growth and investment prospects," Ruthe said according to an official release.
The meeting deliberated prominently on investment climate, regulatory and legislative procedures, and collaborations in the areas of agriculture and horticulture among other things.
Large and Medium Industries Minister MB Patil and IT Minister Priyank Kharge were also among those who represented the Karnataka government.
Speaking about the meeting, Shivakumar said, "The Netherlands delegation has discussed several matters. It has also sought the implementation of a transparent and fair excise policy. A meeting would be soon held to sort out the issues about facilitating the Dutch investments in the state."
Large and Medium Industries Minister MB Patil said that the government of Karnataka looks forward to increased investments from the Netherlands across various industries like food processing, biotech, pharma, Innovation and R&D among others. There is also enough scope for investments in the tourism sector, he opined.
Patil informed the Dutch delegation that the government would set up KHIR City (Knowledge Health Innovation-Research City) on 1,000 acres near Bengaluru International Airport.
Radovan Sikorsky, CFO, Board Member Heineken expressed that being the largest MNC investor in Karnataka for marketing and brewing of premium beer under the Kingfisher and Heineken brands, Heineken is looking for a fair and transparent regulatory regime that promotes the growth of the beer category in the State and offers premium products to its consumers.
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‘Self-styled Vishwaguru stands exposed’: Cong's dig at PM over Pak role in US-Iran ceasefire
New Delhi (PTI): Taking a swipe at the government, the Congress on Wednesday said the role played by Pakistan in bringing about the ceasefire between the US and Iran is a “severe setback” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's “highly personalised diplomacy” and “the self-styled Vishwaguru stands thoroughly exposed”.
The opposition party also said Prime Minister Modi's “cowardice is demonstrated by his silence not only on Israel’s belligerence, but on the completely unacceptable and disgraceful language being used by his good friend in the White House”.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the entire world will cautiously welcome the two-week ceasefire in the West Asia conflict between the US and Israel on the one side and Iran on the other.
“The conflict had begun on February 28th with the targeted assassinations of the topmost echelons of the regime in Iran. These had started just two days after Prime Minister Modi had completed his much-trumpeted visit to Israel, a visit that diminished India’s global stature and standing,” Ramesh claimed.
PM Modi had said nothing about Israel’s "genocide" in Gaza and its aggressively expansionist policies in the occupied West Bank, Ramesh said.
“The role played by Pakistan in bringing about the ceasefire is a severe setback to both the substance and style of Mr Modi’s highly personalised diplomacy,” he said.
The policy to isolate Pakistan for its continuing support to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and to convince the world that it is a failed state has clearly not succeeded – unlike what Manmohan Singh had accomplished after the Mumbai terror attacks, Ramesh claimed.
That a bankrupt economy dependent entirely on the largesse of external donors and a broken country in so many ways was able to play such a role calls into question Modi’s strategy of engagement and narrative management, he said.
“He (Modi) or his team has also never explained why Op Sindoor was suddenly and abruptly halted on May 10th 2025 - the first announcement of which came from the US Secretary of State and for which the US President has claimed credit almost a hundred times since then,” the Congress leader said.
“There is a palpable sigh of relief everywhere. The External Affairs Minister (S Jaishankar) dismissed Pakistan as a dalal. But now the self-styled Vishwaguru stands thoroughly exposed, his self-declared 56-inch chest shrunk and shrivelled,” Ramesh said.
“His cowardice is demonstrated by his silence not only on Israel’s belligerence, but on the completely unacceptable and disgraceful language being used by his good friend in the White House,” the Congress leader added.
US President Donald Trump pulled back on his threats to launch devastating strikes on Iran late Tuesday, as the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire that includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump swerved to de-escalate the war less than two hours before the deadline he set for Tehran to capitulate to a deal or face attacks on its bridges and power plants meant to destroy the Iranian civilisation.
Trump made the dramatic announcement on Truth Social on Tuesday evening (US time) even as Democrats called for his removal over unhinged threats to wipe out the Iranian civilisation.
"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz," the US President said in a social media post.
Iran's Supreme National Security Council said it has accepted the ceasefire and that it would negotiate with the United States in Pakistan beginning Friday. Neither Iran nor the United States said when the ceasefire would begin, and attacks took place in Israel, Iran and across the Gulf region early Wednesday.
Israel backed the US ceasefire with Iran but the deal doesn't cover fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Wednesday.
