Coimbatore has the potential to contribute 30% to 40% of Tamil Nadu’s GDP, said Darez Ahamed, Managing Director and CEO of Guidance, Department of Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce, Tamil Nadu, in Coimbatore on Friday.
At a meeting organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Coimbatore, and the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore Chapter, he said several Mittelstand (SME) companies in Germany established direct connections and partnerships with Coimbatore-based firms. These companies appreciated the cost-effective and problem-solving capabilities of Coimbatore companies. While there were bottlenecks, including infrastructure challenges, the government was taking steps to address them.
Though Coimbatore was classified as a tier-2 city, it was perceived by Fortune 500 companies and MNCs as a tier-1 city and was a preferred destination.
The Global Capability Centres, R& D, and logistics were focus areas for investment in Coimbatore and local businesses should make better use of the Single Window System, Biz Buddy, and MOU facilities provided by Guidance for faster approvals, as these were tools already widely used by MNCs, he added.
District Collector Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar highlighted how suggestions from citizens and industry leaders had been incorporated into government actions.
Members from various associations representing the MSMEs, electric mobility, textiles, energy, and environment sectors participated in the meeting and shared their perspectives on sector-specific needs, expectations, and requests for support from Guidance.
The participants highlighted the need for a common testing facility, upskilling of workforce and attracting Foreign Direct Investment.
The officials emphasised the government’s commitment to strengthen Coimbatore’s position as a major industrial hub. The concerns raised by the participants would be reviewed and presented to the appropriate Forums, they said.
Published – May 17, 2025 05:05 pm IST
