CM Stalin likely to leave for US on August 22, may meet Google’s Sundar Pichai

CHENNAI: The central government has granted permission for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to visit the US to attract more foreign investments, according to Daily Thanthi.

Arrangements are being made for the Chief Minister's journey. But the dates of the trip kept changing.

Now, with the central government granting permission to the CM to undertake a 15-day trip, it is said that he would fly out on August 22 after hoisting the tricolour on Independence Day (August 15), according to reports. It is also speculated that some changes in the Tamil Nadu cabinet would happen after Independence Day and before the CM goes overseas. Additionally, reports of state minister Udhayanidhi Stalin being elevated to deputy chief minister are doing the rounds yet again.

Among the top honchos he is expected to meet are Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. It may be noted that a delegation of Google executives had met with the CM in the city less than two months ago.

Originally the trip was planned for in the first half of the calendar year, however the visit was deferred owing to the Parliamentary polls and the session of the State Assembly, mainly the budget session.

State industries minister T R B Rajaa and senior bureaucrats of the state government could accompany the CM during the trip. Less than two months ago, a delegation of Google executives met with the CM in the city.

Early this year, the Chief Minister visited Spain and inked agreements worth nearly Rs 3,500 crore for investment in Tamil Nadu.

Stalin undertook similar visits to UAE over a year ago, mainly to UAE and signed agreements for multi-crore business investment in Tamil Nadu. The state industries department is confident that the CM's US visit would bring big ticket investments to the state.