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Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has instructed his officials to pinpoint five cities beyond Bengaluru for industrial expansion in the state. This directive came during a review meeting of the Commerce and Industries Department in Bengaluru on Friday. The Chief Minister emphasized the need to identify cities equipped with airports and other necessary infrastructure facilities.

The primary objective behind this initiative is to generate employment opportunities across various regions of Karnataka by attracting industries and offering them special incentives. An official release stated, "With the aim of creating job opportunities in various cities of the State, it is intended to encourage industries by providing special incentives to investors."

To further streamline the process of granting approvals for setting up industries, Shivakumar directed all relevant departments to finalize the approval process within the predetermined timeframe. He assured that he would engage in discussions with the concerned ministers regarding this matter.

Under the new single-window approval system, 22 departments and 119 services have been consolidated, with a strong focus on digitalization and timely approvals. Karnataka currently holds the ninth position in the NITI Aayog’s Investor-Friendly Index. The Chief Minister also touched upon the measures being undertaken to attract investments from neighboring states such as Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh.

Further discussions were held to understand the reforms that investors anticipate from the state. According to the release, officials highlighted that in the past three years, Karnataka has emerged as the third-largest recipient of investments in the manufacturing sector in the country, attracting investments amounting to ₹5.58 lakh crore. Efforts are currently underway to further enhance this position.