Jayalalithaa seeks fresh investments, woos industry

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today said her government would soon come out with a Vision Document 2025 to promote investments in the infrastructure sector.

While addressing the captains of industry in Chennai, the CM said her government would address infrastructure issues, especially power, on a war footing. The meeting was attended by Chairman and Managing director of the Bajaj Group Rahul Bajaj, Godrej group Chairman Adi Godrej, Tata Steel Vice Chairman B Muthuraman, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of JK Tyre Raghupati Singhania and BHEL CMD B P Rao, among other eminent industrialists.

The mood in the industry was upbeat. Madhur Bajaj, vice chairman & whole time director of Bajaj Auto, said: “She looks extremely positive.” Echoing his views, Muthuraman said the industry will do very well under the new regime and change is welcome.

Jayalalithaa was addressing the National Council Meeting of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII): "The state government proposed to bring out a Vision Document 2025 that will meet your expectations. This document will contain clear-cut policies for promoting investments in infrastructure like power, ports, ship-building and others. There will be special emphasis on renewal energy like solar power." "The state government will act as a catalyst in fulfilling industry dreams. This is a state that delivers and we need active partners who can see growth both in the old and the new economy and participate in the generation and propagation of wealth."

Commenting about power shortage, the CM said: “The government is seized of the matter and is taking efforts on war footing to correct the situation and the state will soon become surplus in power.” “Chennai is set to emerge as one of the top five global auto clusters. My vision is to make Chennai the world’s largest auto cluster.” Referring to CII's central theme for 2011-12 'Business for Livelihood', Jayalalithaa said her government has the common man as the focal point and improving his standard of living is the central theme of the state government's economic policy.

She said the medium- and long-term prospects of India were encouraging, but the country still has the problem of poverty and inequitable distribution of income and wealth.