CII Hails Tamil Nadu Government's Faster Industrial Clearances, Urges Airport Expansion and MSME Support

Coimbatore: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has commended the Tamil Nadu government for significantly improving the speed of industrial clearances, stating that faster approvals have helped sustain industrial growth and strengthened investor confidence across the State.

Addressing the media, CII Tamil Nadu Chairman C. Devarajan and CII Southern Region Chairman P. Ravichandran said industrial activity in Tamil Nadu continues to remain robust, with approvals from various government departments, including the Public Works Department (PWD), being processed much faster than before.

They noted that while most regulatory approvals are being issued without significant delays, certain issues continue in the mining sector. Expressing confidence that these concerns would also be resolved soon, they said the overall industrial ecosystem in Tamil Nadu remains positive.

The CII leaders also revealed that a delegation recently met Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to brief him on the organisation's initiatives and discuss key industrial issues. They said the Chief Minister responded positively and expressed confidence in the State's industrial growth trajectory.

Highlighting CII's vision for 2026-27, the leaders said the organisation would continue with its theme, "Accelerating Competitiveness in Southern India," focusing on strengthening the region's industrial ecosystem through growth, innovation and sustainability.

They said Indian manufacturers must remain globally competitive by producing high-quality products at competitive costs while strengthening supply chain resilience. Referring to China's dominance in supplying critical raw materials for electric vehicle batteries, they stressed the importance of reducing dependence on a single source and building resilient supply chains.

The CII leadership identified growth, inclusiveness, resilience, sustainability and trust as the five key pillars that will guide its initiatives during the year. They also emphasised the importance of gender diversity, wider societal participation and environmentally responsible manufacturing practices.

As part of its roadmap, CII has constituted eight sector-focused committees, including a dedicated committee for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The committee will support MSMEs in adopting digital transformation, artificial intelligence and leveraging opportunities arising from Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).

To further strengthen the startup and MSME ecosystem, CII will organise an MSME and Startup Conclave on July 10 in association with PSG College of Technology and its incubation centre. The conclave will bring together entrepreneurs, startups, MSMEs, investors, industry leaders and academia to promote innovation, entrepreneurship and technology-driven industrial growth.

The industry body also highlighted infrastructure as a critical driver of economic development. Describing airports as growth engines for the economy, the leaders said Tamil Nadu would require additional airport capacity within the next five years to support increasing passenger and cargo traffic. They urged the government to expedite plans for a new airport and suggested that, if the project could not be completed within the timeframe, options to expand the existing Chennai airport at Meenambakkam should be explored to meet future demand.