Tamil Nadu is first choice for industrial investment due to excellent law and order, industry-friendly climate, says Speaker Appavu

The industry-friendly climate prevailing in Tamil Nadu and excellent law and order situation here attract domestic and foreign investors to make hefty investments to start industries ranging from medium-scale units to mega projects like Vietnam’s Vinfast, Tamil Nadu Speaker M. Appavu said.

Speaking to reporters at the Colletorate here on Thursday, Mr. Appavu said law and order situation in BJP-ruled States like Manipur was in the worst shape even as the Tamil Nadu Government was taking impartial action in any crime, including the criminal offences happening due to personal enmity. Hence, the law and order situation was in excellent shape in Tamil Nadu, which was attracting huge industrial investments from domestic and foreign investors like Vietnam’s Vinfast creating several lakh new jobs since 2021.

Even the Confederation of Indian Industries was pleased with the infrastructure in Tamil Nadu like quality and uninterrupted power, road connectivity, skilled manpower, ancillary units supplying components to major industries etc. Even as the organised gangs were posing threat to the industries in a few Indian States, there was no such situation in Tamil Nadu, where rule of law had been guaranteed.

“You can compare Tamil Nadu’s growth with any other Indian State in infrastructure, education, healthcare, industrial development and investment and consequent job creation. Tamil Nadu stands much ahead of any Indian States,” Mr. Appavu noted.

The Speaker also categorically rejected AIADMK general secretary and Opposition Leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s charge that the industrial investments as being claimed by the Tamil Nadu Government were not actually realised.

“When Mr. Palaniswami raised this allegation in the Assembly, Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa gave befitting reply with statistics. Since we’re on the top, Tamil Nadu has achieved 11.19% Gross Domestic Product even as the national GDP stands only at 6%,” Mr. Appavu said.

On India’s Free Trade Agreement with European Union, the Speaker, while welcoming it, said the India would have to wait for at least 5 years to enjoy the benefits and not this year itself as was being claimed by Union Minister Piyush Goyal.

“When he was the Minister for Power in 2015, he announced that the revised re-tender for Cheyyar 4,000 MW project after weeding out the flaws in tender conditions would be floated again after maiden tender called for executing this project was cancelled. Even after 2026, the revised tender is yet to be floated as promised by Mr. Piyush Goyal. I just recall this incident so that you can understand about the promise made by Mr. Piyush Goyal,” Mr. Appavu said.

He also said the Union Government had done nothing after the recent tariff hike by the United States that paralysed the textile industries of Tirupur and Coimbatore, marine product exports of Thoothukudi and more than 60% leather industries in Vellore and Vaniyambadi. Even though more than 40% of the electronics exports from Tamil Nadu was hit hard, the Centre did nothing to bail out these industries by giving Goods and Service Tax sops.

“What was Prime Minister Narendra Modi doing then? What was the step taken by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman? However, Mr. Modi is only worried about lighting ‘deepam’ in Thirupparankundram,” said Mr. Appavu, adding that Mr. Modi would do nothing as any counter measure taken by him would antagonize the US, which would tighten the noose around Adani Group in the bribery case.