Karnataka Govt Beckons Elon Musk, Terms State as India's Investment Hub

BENGALURU: The Congress-led government of the Indian state of Karnataka has extended an invitation to business magnate Elon Musk, urging him to set up businesses in the southern state. Karnataka's Minister of Commerce and Industries, Infrastructure MB Patil, declared on Twitter that he thought Karnataka was the "ideal destination" for Tesla to expand into India.

Patil highlighted the state's potential and capabilities, stating, "If Tesla considers setting up a plant in India, Karnataka...is The Destination." He emphasized that Karnataka, known for its progressiveness and thriving innovation and technology hub, is fully prepared to support Tesla and Elon Musk's ventures, including Starlink, by providing the necessary facilities.

"As a progressive state and a thriving hub of innovation and technology, Karnataka stands ready to support and provide the necessary facilities for Tesla and other ventures of Elon Musk, including Starlink," Mr. Patil wrote, tagging Mr. Musk's Twitter handle.

Karnataka aims to position itself as a technology and manufacturing hub for the future, focusing on driving the state's growth in technology and manufacturing 5.0 for the coming decades.

During his ongoing state visit to the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had the opportunity to meet with Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, as well as the chief of Twitter. Musk received an invitation from PM Modi, and he was urged to investigate business potential in India, notably in the quickly growing commercial space industry and electric vehicle mobility.

Following the meeting, Elon Musk expressed his enthusiasm for India's future, stating that he sees more promise in India than any other large country in the world. He revealed tentative plans to visit India again next year, expressing gratitude to PM Modi for his support. Musk expressed confidence that Tesla would establish a presence in India "as soon as humanly possible" and hinted at a significant investment for the country in the near future.

Regarding the timeline for Tesla's entry into India, Musk refrained from making premature announcements but hinted that the company could announce the location of its new factory by the end of 2023.

To a question on when Tesla will be in India, Mr. Musk said, "We don't want to jump the gun with an announcement, but it's quite likely that there will be a significant investment for India in the future."

In addition to Tesla, Elon Musk also displayed interest in bringing his Starlink satellite-based internet services to India. Starlink, operated by Musk's company SpaceX, offers internet connectivity via a constellation of satellites. India, recognizing the potential of the space sector, has opened its doors to private players, seeking to leverage their expertise and resources for further growth.

With the Karnataka government extending its invitation and Prime Minister Modi's efforts to encourage investments in electric mobility and the space sector, India appears to be on the cusp of witnessing the entry of Tesla and Elon Musk's ventures, potentially revolutionizing the country's automotive and technology landscapes.

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