The Union Government announced plans to host a technology, trade and tourism summit in Mangaluru, positioning the coastal city as a rising global engagement hub. The announcement was made by Captain Brijesh Chowta, Member of Parliament for Dakshina Kannada, during a fireside chat at TiECon Mangaluru 2026, highlighting the city’s growing strategic importance beyond traditional metros.
Mangaluru was identified as one of 10 cities selected for engagement with embassy heads of all countries based in India, under the leadership of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The initiative aimed to showcase the region’s economic potential on an international platform while building long-term diplomatic and business linkages. The proposed summit, expected to be held in April, was planned to bring together embassy representatives and nearly 400 members of the global Mangaluru diaspora who have achieved success internationally.
Speaking on the sidelines of the session titled “Accelerating Growth of Startups from Emerging Hubs,” Chowta said the dialogue would focus on “tech, trade and tourism”, aligning national priorities with regional strengths. The session featured Sudeep Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and was moderated by Sajeev Kumar Gupta, CEO, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission.
Highlighting Mangaluru’s identity as a major port city, Chowta identified maritime technology as a priority sector, calling for AI-driven solutions in port operations, cargo handling and allied services. Discussions also addressed the need to scale the city’s startup ecosystem, strengthen innovation infrastructure and develop a stakeholder-driven urban master plan.
Srivastava noted that the government’s role was increasingly focused on enabling startup ecosystems in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, adding that MeitY was supporting the scaling of 1,600 technology startups through 65 partner agencies nationwide.
The proposed summit formed part of the ‘Back to Ooru’ initiative, aimed at reconnecting talent, investment and innovation with the coastal region, while reinforcing Mangaluru’s role in India’s next phase of economic and urban growth.
