KASSIA woos AKKA in America

"Elladaru iru, Enthadaru Iru, Endendigu Nee Kannadavagiru"
Recently in faraway Chicago, a lot of people chatted up in Kannada. It's USA and so no one objected, but hypothetically speaking, if anyone did, you can imagine the response it would have elicited: 'Swalpa Adjust Madkoli'! Typical of Kannadigas to say that, and in the context of the industry and Government in Karnataka, typical of KASSIA!!

The event was the 5th annual World Kannada Conference hosted by the Association of American Kannada Koota (AKKA). A delegation of KASSIA had been invited, apart from a galaxy of luminaries from different fields beginning with the Honourable, Chief Minister of Karnataka, Sri B.S. Yeddyurappa and Large & Medium Industries Minister Sri Murugesh R. Nirani, among others.

The Office Bearers of KASSIA had fruitful discussions with the Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and the Non-Resident Kannadigas on a host of issues of mutual concern to them. A gist of the US visit and reactions of Team KASSIA is given below:

Over 4,000 eminence graces including 400 non-resident Kannadigas took part in the conference which also comprised a business forum. Sri Ashok Kumar Attri, Consul General, Consulate General of India, Chicago was happy with the turnout from Karnataka.

The Honourable Governor of Illinois, Mr Rod R. Blagojevich and the Honourable Chief Minister of Karnataka, Sri B.S. Yeddyurappa agreed to enter into a MoU on strengthening mutual trade. The agreement will over a vast range of sectors like urban infrastructure, power generation, water cleaning technologies, medical tourism, etc.

Sri Murugesh R. Nirani, Honourable L&M Industries Minister's interactions with the NRIs and NRKs had an impressive response with around Rs 2 lakh crore investments expected to flow into the State.

The official delegation was accompanied by a business delegation consisting of Sriyuths Muralidhar, President, FKCCI, Arvind N. Burji, President, and Office Bearers of KASSIA, among others.

Team KASSIA on the tour
Arvind N. Burji, President: In my perception, the NRIs seem to be mulling on a wait and watch approach to our overtures for investing in Karnataka. Their main concern is about the infrastructure climate in the State.
The presence of the Honourable Chief Minister and his explicit assurances and promises to improve the infrastructure must have boosted their confidence. It was also nice to see the interest shown by the Non Residents of Karnataka about KASSIA and how it is serving the interests of the small industry.

Overall, our visit can certainly be described as successful. As the Honourable Large & Medium Industries revealed at the following press meet on his return to Bangalore, around Rs 2 lakh crore investments are likely to come in, which by any yardstick, is indeed formidable.

Taken forward, this will be a significant catalyst in the State recapturing its numero uno place in the industrial map of the country. The SSIs too stand to benefit immensely from the trickle down effect of such a mammoth industry expansion exercise.

M.C. Dinesh, Vice President: The US tour was an excellent learning curve for us. We got a first hand account of how Governments are responsive to the needs of the industry and their undiminished appetite for infrastructure building, business enterprise and business acumen.

The exposure I am sure, will stand us in good stead in our efforts to hand-hold the SSIs and help fulfill their vision. You always learn from your peers, and you learn better and quicker when you see it first hand for yourself. While the big picture for the media is about the huge promises of big ticket investments, KASSIA is more interested in the spillover effects for the small industry. Once the proposals take off in reality - and we are confident that the CM will pull it off - it is up to us to tap into the new opportunities.

It will be KASSIA's endeavor to see that the distance between promise and potential is bridged successfully.
Specifically speaking, I feel there would be new opportunities coming up in textiles, new manufacturing, printing, leather exports, gems and jewelry.

Interactions with the Non Resident Kannadigas revealed that the US is presently in the grip of a recession. If this continues for a longish period, it could lead to reverse brain drain. Which is actually good news for us!
Prakash N. Raikar, Hon. General Secretary: The NRIs in general and the Non Resident Kannadigas in particular expressed keen interest in investing in Karnataka. This much was evident in our interactions with them.

But they were all worried about the lack of infrastructure like good motorable roads, uninterrupted and reliable power supply, adequate drainage, water supply, etc. Though non-resident, they seem to be well informed about our State!

If the government can respond to their specific grievances and allay their fears on this count, they will gladly contribute their mite to the industrial development of their beloved state.

We also got a first hand glimpse of the infrastructural depth and technological prowess of the US industry. Technology plays as much an important role as capital in industry - this is something we can learn and replicate in our industries.

D.K. Prabhudevaiah, Hon. Treasurer: The Non-Resident Kannadigas are eager to invest in their beloved State, but only if the state government takes concrete measures to improve the state of infrastructure. All eyes are now on the Honourable Chief Minister and his government to see if he works on his promises. We also observed that businesses in US are generally meticulous, well planned and professionally organized. It's a lesson which we can fruitfully adapt in our own businesses.

To sum up KASSIA @ US, one is reminded of Kuvempu's iconic saying: "Elladaru iru, Enthadaru Iru, Endendigu Nee Kannadavagiru". Wherever you are, however you are, always be a Kannadiga forever. The Non-Resident Kannadigas, by contributing to the industrial development of their homeland, at the behest of the government and KASSIA, will only prove Kuvempu's saying true.