Karnataka govt delegation meets Boeing and GE officials in the US; discusses China+1 strategy with IMF

The meeting, attended by top IMF officials including deputy managing director Gita Gopinath, analyzed the broader Indian growth narrative, according to a statement from the state minister's office.

A delegation from Karnataka, led by the state's industries minister, MB Patil, recently visited the United States to explore business opportunities. As part of their visit, they met with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to discuss how the state can benefit from the "China +1" strategy. Notably, the meeting was attended by top officials of the IMF, including Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath, who discussed the broader growth narrative of India. A statement from the minister's office confirmed this.

"We held significant discussions with the IMF to explore opportunities for Karnataka to leverage the "China + One" operational strategy favoured by global corporations. This initiative aims to enhance our state's economic prospects and attractiveness to foreign investors," said Patil.

During the meeting, participants also discussed strategies to decongest Bengaluru in order to support increased investments. Patil emphasised the need for anticipating and addressing imbalances in the skilled labour force.

During a meeting with the US-India Strategic Investment Forum (USISPF), delegations discussed the interest of investors in the upcoming health tech park near Bengaluru International Airport and the need to improve medical tourism in Karnataka. It was suggested to explore potential partnerships for using blockchain technology to address e-governance or municipal challenges. Furthermore, we shared ideas on how to develop training curricula for Industry 4.0-related skills.

Meeting with Boeing and GE officials

In a meeting with global aircraft major Boeing, minister Patil emphasized exploring potential investments in logistics centers, passenger-to-freight (P2F) conversions, and pilot and crew training centers near Karnataka airports, the release said.

"Karnataka's Endeavors in Fostering Foreign Investment and Economic Advancement"

During my tour in the United States, I extended an invitation to #Boeing, the world's largest aircraft manufacturer, to invest in our state of Karnataka. We emphasized the investment potential… pic.twitter.com/th18xy1w9u

— M B Patil (@MBPatil) September 27, 2023

During the meeting with the representatives of GE Vernova, the delegations discussed the potential for component manufacturing in Karnataka. Additionally, we explored opportunities for Pump Storage Projects to store excess solar, wind, or other sources during periods of high demand. The meeting also focused on forming partnerships with EPC firms for both onshore and offshore renewable energy projects.

Talks with members of GE Healthcare centred on identifying potential collaboration opportunities in upskilling the workforce in AI/ML, which is likely to play a critical role in the next decade of life sciences. The scope for development and strengthening of the product supplier base in Karnataka was also examined.

Among those who attended the meetings were Greta Lundeberg, VP; Niccola Porreca, director (Boeing); Mukesh Aghi, president & CEO; Susan Ritchie, VP (USISPF); George Pickart, MD (GE Vernova); John Schaeffler, global executive leader; and Andrew Quinn, ED (GE Healthcare).

Talks with RTX and Intelsat to explore collaborations

The Karnataka delegation also held talks with RTX (formerly Raytheon), one of the largest aerospace and defence companies, Intelsat, and the US-India SME Council.

Discussions with RTX, which houses an R&D centre in Bengaluru, focused on enhancing supply chain connections and considering electronics manufacturing in Karnataka. According to the release, both sides expressed keenness in exploring partnerships with space industry startups for technology collaborations.

Patil emphasised enhancing partnerships with the government and educational institutions to nurture a talent pipeline.

In discussions with Intelsat, the primary focus was on expanding the operational scope of the Indian subsidiary and exploring satellite-sourcing opportunities from Indian space startups. Patil remarked that there is a need to explore collaboration opportunities in software solutions and the role of AI/ML in satellite communications. The meeting also discussed establishing a global capability centre as part of long-term planning.

During the US India SME Council meeting, which witnessed the presence of over 30 CEOs, Patil apprised attendees about investment opportunities in Karnataka.

Officials present in the meetings included Javier Ramis, VP; Kyle Ballard, director (RTX); Henry B Martin (RTX); Rory Welch, VP; Claudia Diamante, head of product & programme management; Rajeev Gadre, senior sales director; Ken Takagi, director, innovation strategy (Intelsat); Elisha Pulivarti, CEO & president, US India SME council; Rajan Natarajan, CEO/founder, Global Alliant; Marc Elrich, an executive for the Government of Montgomery County of Maryland; principal secretary to Karnataka Industries Department S Selvakumar; and Commissioner Gunjan Krishna, Minister's Private Secretary Narendra.