Mangaluru : The industries and commerce department is developing an industrial estate near Ira-Mudipu in Bantwal taluk for micro, small and medium enterprises, said S.G. Hegde, Joint Director of the department, Dakshina Kannada district, on Wednesday.

He was speaking at the inauguration of a national vendor development programme-cum-industrial exhibition at Hotel Moti Mahal, organised by the Union Ministry of MSME, District Industries Centre and the District Small Industries Association.

Mr. Hegde said since the government has categorised Bantwal as a backward taluk, entrepreneurs starting industries in the taluk would get five per cent additional subsidy for various activities and exhorted budding as well as existing entrepreneurs to start ventures in that taluk. The industrial estate is spread over an area of 250 acres, he added.

Meanwhile, the department has addressed the power supply problem at the export-import industrial park (EPIP) at Ganjimath in Mangaluru taluk. Land would be provided for industries, at least 30 per cent of whose production is meant for export, he said.

Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Nigam Vasani said the government should take steps to showcase Mangaluru as the investment hub for industries. The coastal region is well connected by road, rail, sea and air and has all the potential to become an industrial hub, he said.