Karnataka signs up investments of Rs3.5 trillion

The Karnataka Government today entered into a vocational training agreement with the Australian state of Victoria, for vocational education and skill building.

''Through this agreement we will work together to build on the existing capability of the Karnataka vocational education and training workforce in areas such as leadership, management and training, deliver advanced training skills in areas such as sustain able construction and identify more partnering opportunities for our educational institutions,'' Victoria's minister for education and minister for skills and workforce-participation, Bronwyn Pike, MP, said.

''Delegations from Karnataka and Victoria will develop and complete an action plan in the first 90 days of the three year agreement'', she said.

According to Karnataka's minister for primary and secondary education, Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, the agreement envisages sharing of faculty and sharing of students.

Kageri said the delegations would explore options for expanding the collaboration across industries like aviation, construction, retail, marine engineering, tourism, food processing, banking and insurance. He added that details regarding funding and other issues were to be worked out.

Meanwhile, ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel maker, has formally signed an initial agreement for a Rs300 billion,6-million-tonne-a-year steel plant in Karnataka.