Captains of leading chambers of commerce and industry in the State on Friday urged the new government to focus on improving infrastructural facilities and make Tamil Nadu a preferred investment destination.
Confederation of Indian Industry - Southern Region (CII-SR) Chairman, T.T. Ashok, said that it was essential to address certain critical areas, which had slowed down the growth of the State, particularly in areas of availability of quality power, rapid development of infrastructure and enhancing the availability of skilled labour.
The CII also would like to carry forward its social development initiative in the areas of affirmative action, women empowerment, sustainability and CSR. CII-Tamil Nadu State Council, Chairman, N.K. Ranganath, said: “The agenda of CII-TN is to work with an action plan to get the support of State government on continuous basis to achieve sustained and inclusive growth. We are already well settled in automobile and auto components sector and we have to take steps to make it a global hub. Besides, focus should be on building sunrise sectors – solar and bio-tech.”
Power shortage
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry – Tamil Nadu State Council Chairman, M. Rafeeque Ahmed, said that the new government should be industry friendly and take immediate steps to correct the perennial power shortage by buying power from other States and be receptive to industry and trade.
The Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that the top most priority for the government should be to ensure a corruption free and transparent governance system; play an active role in promoting Brand Tamil Nadu by leveraging on the high standards achieved by industries in sectors such as engineering, automotive, leather and textile.
To mitigate power crisis, the State should allow setting up of small power plants (15 to 100 MW capacity) and permit industrial estates/clusters to set up such power plants on a co-operative basis or through an IPP and distribute energy to their constituents.
Representatives of the Small and Medium Industries Association said that the AIADMK government should be approachable, industry friendly and must frame policies to address their woes.
Tirupur Exporters' Association president A. Sakthivel said that immediate steps should be taken to solve the problems faced by the knitwear sector.
