Wed Sep 18 03:21:49 UTC 2024: ## Bengaluru Minister Slams Goyal’s “New Silicon Valley” Idea, Urges Focus on Existing Ecosystem
**Bengaluru, India** – In a heated exchange, Karnataka Industries Minister MB Patil has criticized Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal’s call for a new Silicon Valley in India, arguing that Bengaluru’s established ecosystem took decades to build.
Goyal, in a meeting earlier this week, suggested the need for a “new township” for entrepreneurs and innovators, implying a move away from Bengaluru’s dominance as India’s tech hub.
Patil took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his displeasure, stating, “Our Own? Bengaluru is in India. India is our Country. Bengaluru wasn’t built in a Day; it took decades, centuries to build Bengaluru.”
He further urged Goyal to focus on strengthening Bengaluru’s existing ecosystem and support the upcoming KHIR (Knowledge, Health, Innovation and Research) city project in the area.
“You can build structures, roads, and infrastructure. An ecosystem takes decades to build. Bengaluru is the hub of India’s knowledge ecosystem,” Patil wrote. “I urge @PiyushGoyalOffc @PiyushGoyal to rather use his offices to help further our own ‘Namma Bengaluru’ as a global city, and also assist where possible in making KHIR a massive global destination.”
The KHIR city project, expected to draw investments worth ₹40,000 crores and create 80,000 jobs, is likely to be located near Bengaluru. Its location is yet to be finalized.
The clash highlights the complex relationship between the central and state governments, particularly concerning the development of strategic sectors like technology. While Goyal emphasizes the need for a fresh start, Patil advocates for leveraging the existing infrastructure and expertise of Bengaluru, the current “Silicon Valley of India.”
First Piper 