Karnataka Delegation Meets With Boeing, GE, IMF Officials

India-West Staff Reporter

NEW YORK, NY – M.B. Patil, the Karnataka Minister for Large and Medium Industries, conducted a series of meetings during their 12-day US visit aimed at attracting investment to the state. The delegation engaged with key figures from Boeing Co, various GE Group companies, the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) and met with IMF Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath to explore various investment prospects and partnerships for the state.

As part of their mission to promote investment in Karnataka, Minister Patil and senior officials from the industries department also discussed strategies to address skill imbalances in the workforce with the IMF. Additionally, they explored the potential for collaboration with GE Healthcare in enhancing the skills of the workforce in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, a press release said.

Minister Patil held discussions with Gita Gopinath to explore potential partnerships and investment opportunities in the state. During the meeting with Boeing Co, the Minister delved into the company’s current involvement in end-assembly manufacturing and Research and Development (R&D) activities within Karnataka.

The delegation also explored options for potential investments in logistics centers, passenger-to-freight (P2F) conversions, and pilot and crew training centers near Karnataka’s airports. The delegation also discussed the assessment of high aviation fuel taxes in Karnataka and its impact on maintaining a favorable aerospace ecosystem in the state.

Boeing Co was represented by Greta Lundeberg, Vice President of International Operations and Policy, Government Operations, and Nicole Porreca, Director of International Operations and Policy, Government Operations. Boeing is renowned worldwide for its expertise in designing, manufacturing, and selling aircraft, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, telecommunications equipment, and missiles.

Meetings with GE Healthcare and GE Vernova led to recommendations for a new industrial policy, encompassing policy scope, eligibility criteria, and incentive disbursement structure. The delegation also explored investment opportunities for pump storage projects aimed at storing excess solar, wind, or other energy sources during periods of high demand.

Minister Patil, accompanied by senior officials, also engaged with the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) to discuss investor interest in the upcoming health tech park near the new Bengaluru airport and strategies to boost medical tourism in Karnataka. Both sides explored potential collaborations involving blockchain technology to address e-governance or municipal challenges, in addition to discussions on developing training curricula for Industry 4.0 skills.

Leading the delegation in the USA, Minister M.B. Patil was joined by senior officials from his department, including S Selvakumar, Principal Secretary, Department of Commerce, and Industries, and Gunjan Krishna, Commissioner for Industrial Development and Director, Industries and Commerce.