TN emerging as leading industrial hub: CII

Chennai, Jul 22: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) today said Tamil Nadu will become the best industrial hub in the country within a couple of years.

More multinational companies were evincing interest to set up business in Tamil Nadu due to the joint proactive approach by the state government and CII, which would not only create a new mechanism that provided an industry-friendly climate but also lead the state to be a favourite destination for investment, CII chairman Sanjay Jayavarthanavelu told sources here.

"The State Government was also trying to push investment in infrastructure and manufacturing to other parts of the state", he said adding "recently, the Taiwan based sportswear manufacturer has set up its base at Cheyyar, thanks to the efforts of the government".

He said that SIPCOT is also planning to setup an industrial park in Madurai to begin with in an area of 1000 acres, which would be later converted to a 2,500 acre special economic zone.

CII and Tamil Nadu government was also determined to take the IT revolution to the Tier II cities of Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Salem and Tirunelveli, Mr Sanjay pointed out.

He said with the growing contribution of southern districts, the state's IT industry, which is generating IT services worth US dollar four billion, which was, 14 per cent of the production of the total services of the country, can grow by five times in the next five years to grab the market share of over 25 per cent of the total software services.

"There is a potential to create 50,000 IT jobs in the next five years that would generate an income of 3,000 to 4000 crore to the local economy, he said adding however, the city must enhance its infrastructure - in terms of roads and airports.

CII's current approch would also bring in fresh investment in auto and auto components, textile, tourism and education sectors in the southern districts of the state.

CII Chairman also said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, during a recent meeting, assured all support to investors in providing power, pollution free zone, creating townships and enhancing the air connectivity in the region. He also expressed happy that the government officials were keen on initating various plans for development of industries in the three-tier areas through public private partnerships.

CII had also been creating rural business hubs to tap native skills and market local products, he said, adding in a conscious effort to facilitate diversity at workplace, the industrial body would provide entrepreneurship and skill development programmes to economicall backward sections to make them shareholders in development.

UNI