Chennai, Sep 10 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay will leave for London on Thursday night on his first official overseas visit since the TVK government assumed office, as the state steps up efforts to attract fresh industrial investment.
CM Vijay is scheduled to depart from Chennai at 10 p.m. and travel to London via Dubai. He will remain in the United Kingdom until September 16 and is expected to return to Chennai at 8 a.m. on September 17, again travelling through Dubai.
A high-level delegation led by the Chief Minister will meet investors and representatives of major companies during the visit.
CM Vijay will also take part in an investors’ conference in London, where he is expected to present Tamil Nadu as a preferred destination for manufacturing, technology and other emerging industries.
Senior officials from state departments have already travelled to London to make arrangements for the programme. Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna has reached the British capital, while Industries Minister Keerthana is expected to join the delegation.
The overseas engagement comes soon after the conclusion of the state Assembly’s Budget session. Officials have been working on the Chief Minister’s travel schedule and arrangements at Chennai airport.
The TVK government has set a target of expanding Tamil Nadu’s economy to $1.5 trillion by 2036. Attracting domestic and overseas investment is a central part of its economic strategy since it took office. As part of that push, Keerthana recently visited South Korea and held discussions with several companies, including an automobile manufacturer. The visit also resulted in the signing of investment agreements, according to the government.
A global investors’ meeting was subsequently held in Chennai on August 13, during which memoranda of understanding were signed with multiple companies.
The government has claimed that, within its first 110 days in office, it signed agreements with 104 companies involving proposed investments of Rs 1,02,514 crore and the potential creation of 1,21,788 jobs.
Tamil Nadu’s renewed investment drive comes amid intense competition from Andhra Pradesh and other states seeking large industrial projects. The government is therefore seeking to strengthen its outreach to international businesses and secure a larger share of new investments.
CM Vijay’s London programme is expected to focus on converting investor interest into firm commitments and showcasing the state’s infrastructure, skilled workforce and industrial ecosystem.
–IANS
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