Karnataka: Centre approves Rs 180 cr project to set up Electronics Manufacturing Cluster at Hubli-Dharwad region

The project, which is being set up at Kotur-Balur Industrial Area in Dharwad District of Karnataka under the EMC 2.0 scheme, is expected to catalyse investments to the tune of over Rs 1,500 crore soon, said Chandrasekhar, who is the minister of state for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, and Electronics & IT.

Nine companies, including start-ups have already committed to make investment of Rs 340 crore with employment potential of 2,500 people.

“Karnataka is emerging as a global Electronics manufacturing hub for the world, just as it is already a telecom hub with Apple plants in Kolar (Wistron) and Devanahalli (Foxconn). These new investments are creating jobs and development,” the minister said.

This EMC has a strategic locational advantage and is well connected with NH -48 (1 Km), and Hubli Domestic Airport (33 Km) which will reduce the logistics/ transportation cost of the industry in the EMC, he highlighted.

The Centre has already approved a Common Facility Centre (CFC) for the development of an advanced testing facility in Mysore, Karnataka that will meet the various testing requirement of the industry.

The Modified Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC 2.0) scheme was introduced on 1st April 2020 with the objective to create world-class infrastructure along with common testing facilities, including Ready Built Factory sheds/Plug & Play infrastructure for attracting Anchor unit along with their supply chain to set up their manufacturing/production facility in the country.

Under the Scheme, three Electronics Manufacturing Clusters over an area of 1,337 acres with project cost of Rs 1,903 crore, including Central financial assistance of Rs 889 crore have been approved which projected investment target of Rs 20,910 crore, Chandrasekhar said.

As a result of these initiatives, India has come a long way in electronics manufacturing in the past eight years, the minister added.