Call to set up apparel, automobile parks in Tuticorin

All India Chamber of Commerce and Industries (AICCI), Thoothukudi, in a memorandum sent to Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, has demanded that steps should be taken to set up an apparel park and an automobile park in Thoothukudi.

The president of AICCI, JP Joe Villavarayar, said that, after the declaration of the Tuticorin Port as one of the major ports in the country, the district was thronged with new industries.

Moreover, due to the outstanding performance of the port and the upcoming Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project, many more new industries were likely to come up in and around Thoothukudi. Hence, for expediting on-going developmental activities and enhancing infrastructures in the district, the State Government should extend its full support.

Since exporters and industries all over Tamil Nadu and Kerala preferred the port as it provided fast and excellent service, the periphery covering 50 km around Thoothukudi should be developed suitably for new industries to come up, in terms of power, water and communication, to captivate them.

The Chamber further demanded the State Government that measures would be taken for further expansion of SIPCOT and SIDCO units immediately. Apart from this, the provision of incentives and concessions from the Government would attract the industrialists here and outside, to pump in money as they had the advantage of the availability of cheap labour. This would, in turn, trigger off employment and cause rapid economic growth.

APPAREL AND AUTOMOBILE PARKS: Pointing out the existing ready-made garment units at Puthiyamputhur at Ottapidaram taluk in the district, the president said that the creation of an apparel park would, certainly, give the industries a boost.

With the availability of the vast port land , Thoothukudi had been said to be an ideal city to be promoted as the second automobile industrial equipment manufacturing hub, next to Chennai in the State.

He also expressed his hope that steps would be taken to establish new salt based chemical industries and pharmaceutical industries in the district. With the availability of the vast port land, Thoothukudi had been said to be an ideal city for industries.

Source: New Ind Express