Mangaluru: The newly-elected Board of the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) said that it will work towards developing infrastructure for IT firms while promoting native startups within the Dakshina Kannada district in a press meet held at the Chamber Building, Bunder on Thursday, October 17.
Highlighting the new board’s action plan, KCCI President Isaac Vas said that there was a tremendous need to build an IT Park with affordable rentals in the district as there are more than 100 IT and ITES companies operating within Mangaluru. He said, “3.25 acres of land for an IT Park has been earmarked by KEONICS at Blueberry Hills, Derabail. KCCI will work with the government in order to take this initiative forward.”
It can be recalled that the KCCI’s efforts had led to the establishment of the CEOL Incubation Centre in the district.
Vas further stated that the KCCI will also be promoting native startups within Dakshina Kannada via academic collaborations. Elaborating on the initiative, Vas said, “By native startups, we do not necessarily mean IT startups. We would like to promote startups focused on solving local issues. Rainwater harvesting and ornamental fish can be turned into an enterprise. The other day, I saw that a startup in Bengaluru is trying to sell areca nut tea.”
“We also have toddy here for which it is so easy to get a licence. We want to recognise such enterprises and we want to celebrate local success,” he added.
The KCCI President also listed setting up a recognised Alternate Dispute Redressal Centre (ADR) and a commercial court in the district as a few thrust areas of the newly-drafted action plan.
Vas said, “Given the size of Karnataka, it is important that a commercial court, with jurisdiction for DK and surrounding areas, is established in Mangaluru and not in Bengaluru. KCCI is already taking up the issue with the Department of Law and will focus all our energies towards this.”
“KCCI is also looking to establish itself as a full-fledged and recognised Alternate Dispute Redressal Centre (ADR) in order to arbitrate disputes related to trade and commerce. The centre will be run by a team of professionals in accordance with the Arbitration and Conciliation Act (1996),” he added.
Boost to DK tourism and cashew nut industry
Speaking about the failing cashew industry in the district, KCCI President Vas said that the three bottlenecks holding back the industry’s growth were: a shortage of raw cashews, the APMC Act, and an unaware Mangaluru Customs Department.
The KCCI’s plan to reinvigorate the cashew nut industry is to reduce the dependence of cashew nut traders on Africa by asking the government to declare cashew as a plantation crop. The organisation also seeks the remove cashews from the APMC and further sensitise the Mangaluru Customs Department on the volatility of the cashew market.
In terms of tourism, the KCCI plans to host a calendar of events organised through a PPP model and also intends to promote three annual events in Mangaluru, namely: Indian Open of Surfing, International Kite Festival, and the River Festival. KCCI has also suggested that the Sasihithlu Beach be declared as an exclusively surfing beach in order to boost tourism.
KCCI Vice-President Shashidhar Pai, Treasurer M Ganesh Kamath, Secretaries Divarkar Pai Kochikar and Nissar Fakeer Mohammed, committee and sub-committee chairpersons, and others were present.
