Tourism Minister Appreciates RACHANA’s Vision for Coastal Karnataka Trade Fair and ‘Mangalore as a Brand’
Mangaluru: The proposed seven-day Coastal Karnataka Trade, Industry, Entrepreneurship & Tourism Exhibition, aimed at providing a major platform for entrepreneurs, industrialists, MSMEs, traders and tourism stakeholders of the region, received an encouraging response from Karnataka Minister for Energy and Tourism Shri K. J. George.
A delegation from RACHANA – Catholic Chamber of Commerce & Industry led by Mr Ivan D’Souza, MLC, Government of Karnataka and Past President of RACHANA, met the Minister and presented a detailed proposal seeking the Government of Karnataka’s support for organising the landmark exhibition in February 2027.
The Minister appreciated RACHANA’s initiative and the vision behind bringing entrepreneurs, industries, businesses and tourism stakeholders under one platform. He observed that such an event could provide valuable opportunities for networking, business development, investment promotion and showcasing the economic potential of Coastal Karnataka.
A key aspect of the discussion was RACHANA’s proposal to “Create Mangalore as a Brand” and position the city prominently on the national and international tourism map.
RACHANA highlighted Mangaluru’s unique strengths, including its airport, seaport, railway and national highway connectivity, along with its potential in beach tourism, temple tourism, heritage and cultural tourism, healthcare, education, hospitality, IT and entrepreneurship. The proposal envisages presenting Mangaluru and the wider Coastal Karnataka region as an attractive destination for tourism, investment, business and talent.
The Minister was convinced of the potential of the “Mangalore as a Brand” concept, recognising that a coordinated effort to promote the city’s diverse tourism and economic strengths could substantially increase tourist arrivals and generate wider economic opportunities for the region.
RACHANA also placed before the Minister its request for Government financial assistance of ₹2 crore towards the proposed exhibition, which is estimated to have an overall cost of approximately ₹3.20 crore.
Responding positively to the request, the Minister directed his Secretary to study the proposal in detail and put up the matter favourably before the appropriate authorities. The response has given considerable encouragement to RACHANA as it moves forward with preparations for the proposed event.
The proposed seven-day exhibition is envisaged as more than a conventional trade fair. It will bring together businesses, manufacturers, MSMEs, entrepreneurs, start-ups, service providers, investors and tourism stakeholders, besides facilitating B2B interactions, buyer-seller meets, knowledge sessions and networking opportunities. A dedicated Tourism Pavilion is also proposed to showcase the rich tourism potential of Coastal Karnataka.
RACHANA President Roy Castelino and Vice President Leslie Rego expressed their appreciation to the Minister for his positive response and encouragement.
The meeting marks an important step towards RACHANA’s vision of showcasing Mangaluru as a vibrant destination for business, investment, tourism and entrepreneurship, while creating a strong platform for the economic growth of Coastal Karnataka.
“The objective is not merely to organise an exhibition, but to create a movement that brings together business, industry, entrepreneurship and tourism and gives Mangaluru and Coastal Karnataka the recognition they deserve,” RACHANA said.
The Minister’s encouraging response is expected to provide further momentum to the initiative and strengthen efforts to make the proposed Coastal Karnataka Trade, Industry, Entrepreneurship & Tourism Exhibition 2027 a significant regional event.