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Industrial environment best in Tamil Nadu: Industries minister P. Thangamani

He said Jayalalithaa had made efforts to bring the Nokia plant to the state
Chennai: State industries minister P. Thangamani claimed that the industrial environment was the best in Tamil Nadu which was witnessing industrial growth. “None of the industries has left the state,” he added, refuting the Opposition’s charges that industries were migrating to Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh owing to an unviable industrial climate.
He pointed to how Hero Motor Cycles, which signed an MoU with Karnataka, had relocated to Andhra Pradesh due to unfavourable conditions in Karnataka.
Replying to a special call attention motion in the Assembly on Friday which was moved by Opposition party members, Mr. Thangamani said former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa had made efforts to bring the Nokia plant to the state and ensured that thousands of women were employed.
He blamed the erstwhile United Progressive Alliance government, of which the DMK was a part, and its retrospective tax demand for Nokia’s decision to close down its factory in the state.
The presence of Japanese companies in Tamil Nadu was higher than in other states in the country. Of the 2,542 Japanese companies in India, Tamil Nadu accounted for 523 of them.
Contending that the state was now witnessing industrial growth, thanks to Ms Jayalalithaa’s numerous initiatives, Mr Thangamani said that Tamil Nadu was therefore continuing to draw huge investments.
“Amma ensured that the state signed 33 MoUs for a total investment of RS 31,706 crores, and of this, Rs 14,305 crores have already been invested,” he said. Mr Thangamani blamed the previous DMK regime for the metro train coach factory shifting to Andhra Pradesh, though the trains were to run here.
On Ford India’s decision to set up its second plant in Gujarat, Mr. Thangamani said the company officials had met Ms Jayalalithaa and said it was merely a business reason to go to Gujarat.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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