Wipro Chairman Rishad Premji on Wednesday stressed on the substantial challenges facing the state of Karnataka due to the rapid influx of professionals, revealing that a staggering four lakh (400,000) individuals are anticipated to join the workforce in Karnataka annually.
"While this is a great testament to the strength and robustness of our (Karnataka's) economy, it also means that there will be a tremendous pressure on our state's resources. Nowhere is this more evident than in the city of Bangalore," said Premji.
The Wipro Chairman advocated for strategic investments in world-class infrastructure, continuous upskilling of the workforce, and heightened focus on education and healthcare, particularly for the most vulnerable sections of society. He urged a swift response to the challenges posed by the rapid growth, stressing that sustaining Karnataka's position as a technological and economic leader requires timely and impactful measures.
Premji acknowledged that the state's economic strength, demonstrated by its contribution of 11 per cent to India's new formal jobs, comes with the responsibility to address the resource constraints efficiently.
He said that Bangalore is not just the IT capital of India but also a hub for science, biotechnology, pharma, semiconductor design, and a leading player in the startup ecosystem. The city hosts the highest number of unicorns and emerging philanthropists in the country.
In the keynote address at the Bengaluru Tech Summit, Premji, also lauded the growth of the USD 245 billion Information Technology (IT) industry in India and highlighted the pivotal role played by the state of Karnataka in this journey.