World Economic Forum: Karnataka signs MoUs worth Rs 22,000 crore with seven firms

Karnataka on Tuesday signed MoUs worth Rs 22,000 crore at the World Economic Forum 2024 at Davos, Switzerland, with global companies such as Microsoft, Web Werks, Hitachi, and four others. While Microsoft signed an agreement with the state on working towards skilling and governance initiatives, Web Werks signed an agreement for setting up a data centre park worth Rs 20,000 crore.

Additionally, four other companies have entered into agreements with the state government, collectively valued at over Rs 2,000 crore.

Hitachi signed an MoU with Karnataka on economic development through work in the rural sector, healthcare, education and panchayat e-governance by creating opportunities for people of the State. Hitachi plans to start with M-Star Telemedicine Deployment through Hitachi MGRM Net. MB Patil, minister for large and medium industries and infrastructure development also held talks with heads of Volvo Group, Nestle, Sony, Inox Group, HP, Lulu Group, Honeywell, Takeda Pharma, Coinbase, BL Agro, Till Man Global, among others.

The agreement between Karnataka and Microsoft outlines a digital skilling initiative aimed at enhancing livelihood opportunities for under-served youth, with a focus on young girls/women, job seekers, individuals with disabilities, nano entrepreneurs, and those in regions with low workforce participation, aspirational districts, remote, and tribal areas.

Microsoft’s digital skilling programme, named Microsoft RISE, will provide 70 hours of virtual instructor-led training on digital productivity, employability, entrepreneurship, and communication skills through its nonprofit partner AISECT.Participants will also have access to the Microsoft Training Platform (MCT), offering over 150 additional hours of skilling content.

The project outcomes include co-branded certificates, access to advanced tech skilling programmes, opportunities in cloud, AI, and cybersecurity careers, participation in the Future Ready Internship Programme, and empowerment of trainers and skill development centres.

The partnership involves Microsoft, AISECT, and possibly a state skill development corporation, with Microsoft providing monetary support and content, AISECT delivering training, and Karnataka Skill Development Corporation generating the audience, integrating offerings, and co-certifying learners.

Web Werks, discussed plans for setting up a data centre of 100 MW in Bengaluru. Additionally, it expressed its ambition to establish a cutting-edge connectivity hub, featuring state-of-the-art hyper-scaler data centers in Bengaluru.

Bengaluru hosts 34% of India’s Global Capability Centers. HP Inc’s focus will be on skilling initiatives and industry 5.0.