At the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) summit held in Mangaluru, business leaders, policymakers, and industry experts underscored the critical need to strengthen regional connectivity in coastal Karnataka to unlock the region’s full economic potential.
The summit, themed around “Driving Growth Through Infrastructure and Collaboration,” emphasized that improved transportation links—especially road, rail, and port connectivity—are essential to attract investments, facilitate trade, and promote inclusive development across the region.
Addressing the gathering, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan M.P. highlighted the government’s focus on infrastructure development, including the expansion of industrial corridors and logistics hubs. “Improved connectivity will not only boost business but also improve access to education, healthcare, and employment in semi-urban and rural areas,” he said.
Several industry representatives called for expedited work on key highway and port linkages, stressing that delays in infrastructure projects are impeding the growth of sectors such as manufacturing, tourism, and IT.
CII officials noted that Mangaluru’s strategic location—proximity to major ports, industrial clusters, and educational institutions—makes it an ideal hub for multi-sectoral growth, provided that infrastructural bottlenecks are addressed.
The summit concluded with a call for public-private collaboration to accelerate project implementation, with participants agreeing that regional connectivity is not just a transport issue, but a cornerstone of economic resilience and sustainable development in Karnataka’s coastal belt.