Tuticorin Chamber of Commerce and Industry is 100 years now

The Tuticorin Chamber of Commerce and Industry has turned `100' on Friday.

Established on November 24, 1906, as Tuticorin Chamber under the chairmanship of M. J. Milligan, an European, it was subsequently re-christened in 1967 to obtain its present name.

Started with 12 European members, the Chamber opened its membership to the Indian merchants and companies on the eve of Independence in 1947.

The Chamber at present has 26 members in its fold, which included 10 corporate members like SPIC and Tamilnad Mercantile Bank, eight shipping companies and eight individuals.

"Traditionally, the Chamber was very selective in awarding membership, with focus on high quality of service to the merchant fraternity and hence the list of representatives remained short, without any overcrowding," says P.S. Sundaram, its secretary.

However, the chamber now plans to slightly enlarge the membership repertoire to 50 during the centenary year, after growing pressures from the traders and professionals (i.e., 24 more members to be inducted).

According to Mr. Sundaram, professionals like chartered accountants will be inducted as members.

"Our aim is to use the wisdom of the members to train youngsters on entrepreneurial skills and make them bring more capital to Tuticorin," he says.

On the `vision' of the Chamber, Mr. Sundaram said that it would put pressure on the Centre to augment the facilities at the Tuticorin port on a war footing, for the growth of trade and tourism in the region.

The Chamber is now planning to take up the request for more number of North-bound trains from Tuticorin and pressure the Centre strongly.

"We will ask for frequent shuttle trains to connect Milavittan with Maniyachi, so that the public can have access to all trains coming from Tirunelveli going to Chennai and other destinations in the North, at Maniyachi," Mr Sundaram says.

Source: The Hindu