Davos 2026: DK Shivakumar invites global investors to Bengaluru; Karnataka holds talks on data centres, AI, manufacturing

• Karnataka invited global investors at WEF Davos to invest in Bengaluru's growth
• Bengaluru boasts 25 lakh engineers and expanding metro, attracting global firms
• State delegation discussed data centers, AI, manufacturing, and R&D with firms.

Did our AI summary help?

Karnataka deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on January 21 invited global investors attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos to invest in Bengaluru, projecting the city as the “city of the future”, backed by a strong talent base, improving infrastructure and a stable policy environment.

Addressing investors, Shivakumar said Bengaluru continues to attract global companies because of its deep human capital and quality of life. “Bengaluru is the city of the future. We have excellent weather, culture and human resource. Many global companies are thriving in the city, and we welcome more investors,” he said.

He said that over 500 leading global companies now operate out of Bengaluru across sectors such as aerospace, information technology and healthcare.

Also, read: Davos 2026: Karnataka holds talks with Coca-Cola, Tata, UPL, AB InBev and others

Drawing a comparison with global technology hubs, Shivakumar said California has around 13 lakh engineers, while Bengaluru alone has nearly 25 lakh engineers. “This demonstrates Bengaluru’s strength and why global leaders and industrialists are drawn to the city,” he said, adding that the government is prioritising infrastructure upgrades, particularly in urban transport.

He said Bengaluru’s Metro network is set to expand to 153 km by next year, while the city now operates around 6,000 public transport buses, including 2,500 electric buses. Shivakumar added that Karnataka is also strengthening transport infrastructure in tier-2 and tier-3 cities and planning capacity to meet projected demand by 2045.

Focus on data centres, AI and manufacturing

Large and Medium Industries Minister MB Patil said Karnataka is witnessing strong interest from Indian and global firms in data centres, artificial intelligence and manufacturing.

He said Sify Technologies is set to inaugurate a new data centre facility in the state shortly, while Bharti Enterprises has expressed interest in setting up a data centre in Karnataka.

Patil said the state delegation, led by Shivakumar, held several high-level meetings with global corporations, technology firms and academic institutions, highlighting Karnataka’s execution capability and investor-friendly ecosystem. Bharti Enterprises Vice Chairman Rajan Bharti Mittal noted that the group has already invested around Rs 13,000 crore in Karnataka and discussed land availability, water requirements and supporting infrastructure for future data centre projects.

The delegation also met French AI firm Mistral AI, which is exploring a phased plan to establish a Global Capability Centre or R&D facility in Bengaluru. Talks were also held with Carlsberg Group, which is implementing a Rs 350 crore investment in bottling capacity in Karnataka, with further expansion under consideration.

Discussions with Imperial College London focused on expanding research collaboration and R&D presence in Karnataka, including in the upcoming KWIN City. Meetings were also held with Philip Morris International, PayPal Holdings, Bharat Forge and Belrise Industries to explore investment, skilling partnerships and manufacturing opportunities.