There is no sign of industrial development taking place in Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) district, which attracted a big chunk of investments at Global Investors Meet (GIM) held in Chennai last year.

The industry stakeholders in Thoothukudi hoped a lot to happen, but there is hardly any progress even after six months of the GIM and it seemed to dampen their expectations, according to K. Nehruprakash, Vice-President, Thoothukudi District Tiny and Small Scale Industries Association (THUDITSSIA) and Joint Secretary, Tamil Nadu Small and Tiny Industries Association (TANSTIA).

Of the total investments of Rs.2.42 lakh crore as per MoUs signed by the investors during the GIM, Thoothukudi attracted a sizable portion of investments of around Rs.67,000 crore. It was even more disappointing that despite several MoUs signed by investors during the four day- THUDITSSIA Industrial Exhibition –(TIE) in August last year. It attracted a Rs. 263 crore investment by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector, but nothing took off till now.

Only when adequate amount of lands and required infrastructure were given to investors, they would come forward to begin their operations, he told The Hindu here on Sunday. Now, automobile industry had become the most sought after one in Thoothukudi and people here expected it after the GIM.

He said the industry body in the southern region of Tamil Nadu had been neglected as even most of the flood hit industrial units especially in Thoothukudi had not been given compensation, as of yet. Moreover, a 100-MLD desalination plant, which the State government announced to set up in Thoothukudi, was also a non-starter. Citing these factors, he sought the government to bring such industrial investments as per MoUs.

Source: The Hindu