Karnataka minister urges US Consulate General to set up office in Whitefield

Karnataka Minister MB Patil, met US Consul General in India, Christopher W Hodges, in Bengaluru on November 28.

Karnataka minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure MB Patil has urged US Consulate General in India Christopher W Hodges to consider opening an office in Whitefield, East Bengaluru.

In a meeting on November 28, Patil extended the invitation to Hodges for the Consulate General office in tech hub Whitefield. However, the US Embassy in New Delhi has not disclosed the location of the new consulate in Bengaluru yet.

Also, read: US intends to open consulates in Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and India in Seattle: White House

Patil also briefed the US Consulate General about the proposed development of Knowledge, Healthcare, Innovation, and Research (KHIR) City on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The project aims to strengthen Bengaluru’s position as a hub of medical tourism, create employment opportunities for locals, and attract global skill sets. The KHIR City, spanning over 2,000 acres, is expected to have a finalized plan in the next 2-3 months. Patil added that roadshows in the US and UAE for KHIR City are planned in the coming months.

Also, read: Karnataka plans KHIR City; aims to generate Rs 40,000 cr investment & create 80,000 jobs 

The minister outlined opportunities in sectors such as aerospace and defence, semiconductors, biotech, and machine tools. Patil emphasised Karnataka's strength in IT and design, aiming to extend it to the manufacturing sector. He highlighted the excellent connectivity in Tier-II and Tier-III cities that can support new businesses.

Also, read: First-person account: A 43-km Metro ride from Bengaluru's tech hub Whitefield for Rs 60

Hodges conveyed that US companies are interested in investing in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities in Karnataka. He said that a US trade delegation would visit Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in February to explore opportunities mainly in Tier-II and Tier-III cities for facilitating the establishment of businesses for American companies.

The US embassy in New Delhi is one of the largest US diplomatic missions globally, coordinating activities with consulates in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad.

Also, read: US new consulates in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru to further boost people-to-people contact