Hosapete: R.V. Deshpande, Minister for Major and Medium Industries, exhorted young entrepreneurs to innovate, invent and invest in Karnataka.

Speaking after inaugurating a two-day business summit, organised by the Department of Industries and Commerce in association with the district administration here on Saturday, Mr. Deshpande said that for the State and the nation to progress more industries had to come up and business, agriculture and horticulture had to grow. “Karnataka has a lot of potential and appeal to the entrepreneurs, particularly the budding ones, to tap it and set up their units in the State,” he said.

According to him, Karantaka was the only State to come out with policies that were investor-friendly to suit various sectors, be it industrialisation, IT & BT, tourism and agro-processing among other things.

“There is scope for as many as 400 startups in Ballari district. Local budding entrepreneurs should come forward to innovate, invent and invest. In turn, Karnataka would extend all assistance to those keen to come forward to take it as a challenge,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner Ramprasath Manohar, in his preliminary remarks, said that the summit was organised to encourage and extend all kinds of help to the budding entrepreneurs to set up their units, provide them the necessary skill development training, resolve the problems faced by the existing units among other units.