JSW, Baldota, Tata, Mahindra among top investors at Invest Karnataka 2025 (original) (raw)

Leading global and domestic firms committed to large-scale projects at the Global Investors’ Meet: Invest Karnataka 2025 with a significant influx of investments across renewable energy, manufacturing, semiconductors, R&D, and infrastructure that promised to transform the state’s industrial landscape.

The top 20 investments came from JSW Neo Energy, Baldota Steel and Power Limited, Tata Power Renewable Energy, Mahindra Susten, and Epsilon Group among others.

Among the biggest announcements, JSW Neo Energy Ltd pledged Rs 56,000 crore for solar and wind energy projects, battery storage, blade manufacturing, and a wind turbine generator plant, making it the highest investment among the top 20. Steel magnate Sajjan Jindal announced that the Jindal Group will invest over Rs 1 lakh crore in Karnataka in the coming years. Of this, Rs 45,000 crore will go into steel production, while Rs 56,000 crore will be channelled into hospitality, solar energy, green hydrogen and other eco-friendly ventures, he said.

Baldota Steel & Power Ltd followed with an investment of Rs 54,000 crore for an integrated steel plant, while Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd and ReNew Pvt Ltd committed Rs 50,000 crore each for renewable energy projects. Other major investments in the sector included Rs 43,975 crore from Serentica Renewables India Pvt Ltd and Rs 35,000 crore from Mahindra Susten Pvt Ltd.

Anand Mahindra, chairman of the Mahindra Group said the investment “will be allocated to renewable energy, with plans to develop over 5 gigawatts of solar and hybrid projects. This initiative is expected to generate 6,000 to 8,000 new jobs, making Karnataka a key hub for clean energy solutions.”

The company also plans to expand its Mahindra Holidays segment, with additional investments of Rs 1,000 crore in new resorts across locations like Gokarna and Hampi. The group is currently in talks with the state government regarding land aggregation and has requested industry status for tourism and single-window clearance to facilitate faster approvals.

Mahindra Defence Services and Mahindra Aerospace are exploring strategic expansion opportunities in Karnataka, with several hundred crores earmarked for investment.

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Other investments in tech, infra, mobility

Hero Future Energies announced Rs 22,200 crore for renewable energy and green hydrogen projects, while Suzlon Energy Ltd committed Rs 21,950 crore for wind power initiatives.

Semiconductor manufacturing saw a boost with Lam Research signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) for an investment of Rs 10,000 crore. TVS Motor Company pledged Rs 2,000 crore for a cutting-edge R&D facility, aiming to develop smarter and greener vehicles, while Honda committed Rs 600 crore for electric vehicle manufacturing, bolstering Karnataka’s vision of becoming a centre for sustainable mobility solutions.

Beyond renewable energy and industrial manufacturing, several global corporations announced significant R&D and infrastructure investments. Schneider Electric will invest Rs 2,247 crore in manufacturing and related R&D activities, Hitachi Energy has committed Rs 1,000 crore, and Bosch has pledged Rs 450 crore. Havells is expanding its manufacturing footprint in Tumkur with a Rs 710 crore investment, while UltraTech Cement and Dalmia Cement have announced Rs 4,500 crore and Rs 3,000 crore investments, respectively, in cement production.

The summit also strongly emphasised Karnataka’s knowledge economy, with the KWIN City initiative drawing interest from nine universities, including St John’s University of New York, which plans to establish a campus in the state. ESR Advisers is set to develop industrial parks and data centres with a Rs 2,500 crore investment, while Sotefin Bharat will introduce fully automated robotic multilevel car and bus parking systems with an investment of Rs 8,500 crore.

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CM launches Single Window System

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday launched Karnataka’s revamped Single Window System to improve ease of doing business in the state. He said the new system will simplify approvals, reduce compliance burdens, and fast-track industrial investments while ensuring transparency and efficiency. The system integrates over 150 business services across 30 state departments.

It will provide real-time status updates, allowing investors to track approvals, amendments, and renewals without delays. “The initiative is particularly beneficial for the manufacturing sector as it introduces an Affidavit-Based Clearance (ABC) mechanism through Karnataka Udyog Mitra. This will enable investors to begin construction and preparatory activities without waiting for multiple approvals,” Siddaramaiah added.

“The revamped Single Window System is integrated with the National Single Window System, allowing investors to access central-level services seamlessly. It also incorporates several KIADB services, such as land search, selection, allotment, and building plan approvals. These services are now available through a single portal,” the chief minister stated, adding that with this “Karnataka aims to further strengthen its position as one of India’s top investment destinations.”

A GIS-based Industrial Information System has also been introduced. It will help investors check compliance with site-related regulations before proceeding with their projects. A wizard-based discovery tool will assist investors in identifying the required state and central approvals, no-objection certificates (NOCs), and clearances at different stages of the project. Further, an Incentive Wizard & Calculator allows investors to check their eligibility for various incentives, concessions, and rebates.

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An AI-powered multi-lingual chatbot will provide instant responses to investor queries on policies, incentives, approvals, and compliance requirements. Chief minister said this move is aimed at enhancing investor convenience. The system also focuses on improving the overall investor experience. It simplifies forms, eliminates duplicate information, and integrates with over 40 other systems. It also provides real-time status visibility with event-based alerts and triggers.

To ensure ease in incentive claims and disbursement, the system enables investors to apply for and track their claims online. This will reduce paperwork and improve transparency. A dashboard-based system allows government stakeholders to monitor application status and implement threshold-based escalations for timely service delivery, Siddaramaiah explained.

The system is available in multiple languages and is designed to be mobile-friendly. It also includes an online grievance redressal mechanism for quick resolutions.