Warming up for the Global Investors Meet (GIM) scheduled for May 2015, the Tamil Nadu government is keen on Japan as a partner nation for the summit. It has also extended an invitation to the team from South Carolina, U.S.
“The State government is keen on having Japan as the partner nation for the GIM. We invite investors and the business community from Japan,” Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam told the Japanese delegation that visited him on Friday.
The delegation, led by Muneo Kurauchi, chairman of the Japan-India Business Cooperation Committee, discussed the Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor and the Madurai-Tuticorin Industrial Corridor.
ADVERTISEMENT
In 2011, Tamil Nadu had 286 Japanese firms doing business, and in two years, the number rose to 523. It must have crossed 600 by now, Mr. Panneerselvam said, adding that a few more Japanese companies decided to make substantial investments in the State, and the government would soon sign MoUs with them.
Japan was keen on developing infrastructure, including roads, ports, power and industrial parks, which would make it easier for small and medium enterprises to invest even more in Tamil Nadu, Mr. Kurauchi said. He also emphasised that a team from the State should visit Japan ahead of the GIM.
Enquiries from JapanADVERTISEMENT
“We have been getting many enquires from Japan, and towards the GIM meet we would be signing some MoUs,” said a senior official.
The South Carolina delegation was headed by Nikki Haley, Governor of South Carolina. To her, Mr. Panneerselvam talked about the vast human resource potential in the State.
“The government plans to conduct road shows in many countries in the next few months. We will showcase the opportunities available here. We will finalise the details in a few days,” said a senior official.