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A Tech Park for the Women, by the Women

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CIOL Writers
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A Tech Park for the Women, by the Women

Tech industry is no longer a male bastion. Women are competing on an equal turf. This could be the reason why a 300-acre tech park is being allotted only for women entrepreneurs in Bengaluru.

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Karnataka's first and exclusive women tech park will be set up by the government at Harohalli, Kanakapura taluk, Bengaluru. From architects to contractors, it is going to be women all the way who will get it up and running. The plan has been approved by the central government and should be ready by November 2016. The park will give opportunities to women entrepreneurs, who are in a rented facility and want to expand.

K Ratna Prabha, additional chief secretary, commerce, and industries department said, "Today, there's no platform for women entrepreneurs and that's why the state government thought it best to create an exclusive tech park for women".

She further added, "The state government's commerce and industries department have already received 56 applications over the past few weeks from women entrepreneurs wanting to set up shop here. The ventures range from IT & ITeS, food processing, textiles, telecom, electronics and others with a proposed investment of around Rs 135 crore with employment opportunities for 2,800 persons. We'll develop 100 acres in the first phase and develop the rest in a phased manner. The Karnataka government has allotted 300 acres for it. Allotment of land will be at a special rate, with investment-based incentives including investment promotion subsidy of 25 percent, exemption from stamp duty, concessional registration charges, exemption from entry tax, etc."

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Besides big banks, giants like Ikea, Walmart, and Toyota have also approached the government to participate in this project. "We're taking forward Karnataka's industrial policy 2014-19 which had, for the first time, proposed special incentives for nurturing women entrepreneurs and establishment of exclusive industrial parks for women," Prabha said.

The government is also trying to bring an overhaul in its internal policy. "Five per cent of the plots sheds in industrial areas estates developed by KIADB or KSSIDC have been reserved for women entrepreneurs in all future industrial areas. So far, 942 women have been allotted plots in KIADB industrial areas. Exclusive clusters for women in textile, gems and jewelry have been planned. The idea is to make Karnataka a leader in women-led enterprises in India," she explained.

Building up on the fervor, Karnataka government plans to set up similar women's park cluster in Mysuru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi and Ballari too.

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