Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has declared his two-nation official visit to Germany and the United Kingdom a “huge success,” announcing that it resulted in securing investments worth Rs 15,516 crore through the signing of 33 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). These projects are expected to generate 17,613 jobs in the state.
“The investment scouting trip was a huge success with 33 MoUs being signed, the investments would generate employment for 17,613 people. While 10 new companies have come forward to invest in Tamil Nadu, 17 other major players who have their presence in the state have decided to have their expansion here itself rather than going elsewhere,” Stalin said on his arrival in Chennai, adding that the tour helped showcase the state’s economic potential and attract fresh commitments.
Rejecting opposition criticism that many of the MoUs were signed with firms already operating in Tamil Nadu, Stalin said, ““The trip helped seal investment proposals since the companies were made to realise the potential in the state. Earlier, they looked elsewhere believing those states had better prospects. That has changed,” he made it clear, adding that his meetings with Hendrik Wüst, Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia, and UK MP Catherine West had strengthened bilateral ties.
To a question on the Union government ignoring the state for the last 10 years and the DMK government remaining silent, he said “Despite that, we continue to be the number one state. Do not think we are keeping silent. It is a silent revolution. How much ever they ignore us, we are proving that we are forging ahead and remain the number one.”
Apart from signing MoUs, Stalin highlighted symbolic moments of his trip, including the unveiling of Dravidian leader Periyar E.V. Ramasamy’s portrait at St Antony’s College, Oxford, his address at the centenary conference of the Self-Respect Movement, and visits to Ambedkar House, Karl Marx’s tomb, and the grave of Tamil scholar G.U. Pope.
Stalin announced that he will inaugurate a unit of Delta Electronics with an investment of Rs 2,000-crore in Hosur on September 11 and lay the foundation for additional projects worth Rs 1,000 crore. Following the Thoothukudi Investors’ Conference, he said, a similar event will be organised in Hosur, which is fast emerging as a key industrial hub.
When asked about AIADMK senior leader KA Sengottaiyan being stripped of his party posts, Stalin declined to comment, syaing, “It is unnecessary when we are talking about constructive issues.”