Future, nature and culture: France eyes on Silicon Beach of India

Mangaluru: The recent visit of Consulate General of France in Bengaluru to Mangaluru generated significant interest among officials, who are now actively seeking French business establishments in the coastal region.

A French delegation led by Pierre Beaudoin, Economic Attaché, and Marc Lamy, Consul General of France at the French Consulate General in Bengaluru, toured various IT facilities and engaged with local enterprises, learning about Mangaluru's expanding technological landscape.

Rohit Bhat, founding-president of TiE Mangaluru, said the Consul General was impressed by the fact that the region has ‘future, nature and culture'. The future to grow, a blend of nature with greenery, mountains, and beaches, and diverse culture. "This is the biggest takeaway the delegation had from the recent visit," he said, adding that the region has currently one French-based company.

Mukesh S from Silicon Beach of India, told TOI that Bengaluru has several French companies, including leading ones. The delegation was impressed by the availability of the abundant talent pool, rich cultural diversity, food, vast coastline with watersports such as surfing, and quality of life.

During their two-day visit to the coast, the delegation visited Mantra Surf Club, which showcased the city's emerging eco-tourism potential. They were introduced to the Silicon Beach Programme and visited innovative companies like UniCourt (LegalTech) and Novigo Solutions (automation and cybersecurity). The final stop was a tour of Pilikula Nisargadhama, including the artisan village and the king cobra breeding centre, providing a glimpse into the region's ecological richness. They also held engagements by visiting Vertex Workspace and LCode Technologies, interacting with local companies and gaining insights into Mangaluru's growing tech ecosystem. Later, they visited Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management and Shine Foundation, focusing on the collaboration potential between academia and innovation.

"We have been informed by the delegation that they were positive about the region, and would want to understand more about the ecosystem. Another delegation would visit the region soon," Mukesh said.