Every district in Tamil Nadu will witness industrial growth, says Chief Minister Stalin

CM lays foundation stone for setting up international furniture park in Thoothukudi

The ultimate goal of the Tamil Nadu government is to ensure growth in all the districts, said Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in Thoothukudi on Monday.

Laying the foundation stone for establishing a world-class furniture park on a sprawling 1,156 acres of land at an estimated cost of about ₹1,000 crore, situated close to the V.O. Chidambaranar Port, Mr. Stalin said he was confident that not only Thoothukudi, but every district in Tamil Nadu would witness industrial growth. “This is just the beginning,” he said.

The furniture park, a first of its kind in the country, was the need of the hour for Tamil Nadu. Experts in the sector have predicted a huge scope for such products in international markets in the next five years as countries like Vietnam and China were in the forefront in leather goods and wooden furniture. Already, major glassmakers from Belgium have shown interest to set up shop at the proposed furniture park and an MoU had been entered with the government, Mr. Stalin said.

The government, which took over about nine months ago, had already hosted three investor conferences–two in Chennai and one in Coimbatore. This, he said, had attracted a whopping investment commitment of ₹56,229 crore and proposed job opportunities for 1,74,999 persons. As many as 109 MoUs had been signed with companies so far.

Recalling his promise, to “retrieve Tamil Nadu”, made during the 2021 Assembly polls, the Chief Minister said, “Almost, everyday, I am interacting with the government officials, ministers and captains of the industry on the need for opening up large scale manufacturing facilities and industrial parks, which has crystallised into such events.” He would tour every city and district regularly. The officials have identified or proposed setting up industries after holding a series of discussions. In fact, the trade and industrial associations in the State were also vibrant.

Mr. Stalin said many southern districts, including Tirunelveli, Theni, Dindigul and Virudhunagar, would shortly get a food park, a textile park and facilities for manufacturing fertilizers, food processing and garment manufacturing units. Attributing the overall growth across the State to the “Dravidian model”, he hoped more job opportunities would prevent migration of youth to other States.

Apart from major industrial houses, small and medium enterprises too had come up with proposals to set up their units in Tamil Nadu. A total of ₹267 crore would be infused and 2,373 new jobs would be given by them for which 19 MoUs had been signed by the companies and the officials from the government, he informed on the occasion.