The State Government is planning to set up a defence and medi park in Coimbatore, according to Minister for Industries M.C. Sampath. He was here to attend the inaugural of INTEC 2017, the five day industrial fair, on Thursday. About 500 acres is needed for SIPCOT to develop a defence and medipark here, he said.
Earlier, Union Minister of State for MSMEs Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary, who inaugurated the fair, said the defence sector had huge potential for the MSMEs. Some of the components used in light combat vehicles and Mars Orbiter Mission were made by MSMEs. He suggested to the State Government to study the Gujarat Government’s policy for development of defence sector so that a similar policy could be drafted for Tamil Nadu too.
Minister for Municipal Administration S.P. Velumani, who also took part in the inaugural, later told presspersons that about 500 acres would be identified so that units that make defence components and healthcare equipment can start production. The Coimbatore District Small Industries Association (CODISSIA) was developing industrial parks at Moperipalayam and Kallapalayam here. The required land reclassification approvals for the project at Kallapalayam have been given by the State Government, he said.
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Minister for Rural Indsutries P. Benjamin said about 16,500 MSME units signed agreement at Global Investors’ Meet and of these, more than 4,000 companies have started operations. Efforts are on so that the other units also start functioning soon.
Chairman of Coir Board C.P. Radhakrishnan said the Central Government “was co-operating with the State Government not for political benefits but for development of Tamil Nadu.” Of the 19 coir clusters approved in the country, nine are in Tamil Nadu.
KK Jalan, secretary for MSMEs, told reporter that MSMEs might face some problems initially when GST is implemented.
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J. Balu, chairman of INTEC 2017, said the 17th edition of INTEC has 525 exhibitors. Exhibitors are from countries such as Germany, Taiwan, Italy and the United States.
V. Sundaram, president of CODISSIA, said by early next year, industries are expected to start construction at the two new industrial parks coming up here. He appealed to the State Government to take up with the Central Government on the need for lower rate under GST for MSMEs.
The Hindu is a media partner for the event.