GIM in focus as CM begins two-nation tour

CHENNAI: Eyeing investments to achieve the aim of elevating the State’s economy to USD one trillion, Chief Minister MK Stalin embarked on a nine-day foreign tour to Singapore and Japan. During the trip, he would meet leading firms to the Global Investors Meet scheduled to be held here in January 2024.

Asked about the extent of investment that the government was hoping to attract during the two-nation trip, the Chief Minister said, “We will be meeting hundreds of firms. It can be finalised only after we reach there.” On whether he intends to travel to other countries after Singapore and Japan, he said it would be decided later.

Elaborating on his tour, Stalin said though inviting firms in the two countries to GIM was the main objective, the entourage would also hold talks with the leading businessmen in person and through the investors meet there.

The Chief Minister is leading a delegation comprising Industries Minister TRB Rajaa, Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu and several top bureaucrats.

Speaking to reports at the airport before leaving, Stalin said his previous foreign trip to the United Arab Emirates had resulted in signing agreements with six firms to the tune of Rs 6,100 crore, with a potential 15,100 jobs.

Of these, the Sheraff Group has invested while the Lulu Group has commenced its project in Coimbatore and is in the process of identifying land in Chennai for a project.

In all, his government has signed MoUs for 226 projects since coming to power in July 2021, Stalin said in response to a query on the agreements inked so far. In the two years of DMK rule, investments to the tune of Rs 2,95,339 crore have been confirmed, he added. These involve jobs for 4,12,565 persons in the State, he said, adding, “We are undertaking this tour on that basis.”