Chennai: Chief Minister M K Stalin has said the ultimate goal of the Tamilnadu government is to ensure growth in all the districts.
He said this after laying the foundation stone for an international furniture park spread over 1,156 acres at SIPCOT in Thoothukudi.
The furniture park is aimed at attracting an investment of Rs 4,500 crore and generating at least 3.5 lakh jobs, and will improve the livelihood of people in southern districts, Stalin said.
The facility has been designed to fulfil 70-80 per cent of its raw material demands in house, and will increase competition in the international market, he added.
Recalling his poll promise to ‘retrieve Tamilnadu’, Stalin said, ‘Almost everyday I am interacting with the government officials, Ministers and captains of the industry on the need for opening up large scale manufacturing facilities and industrial parks, which has crystallised into such events.’
Thoothukudi was chosen for the project because it has Tamil Nadu’s second-largest seaport – VOC Port – which has been the gateway for vessels plying from Southeast Asian countries, Australia, and New Zealand.
The park seeks to create a better ecosystem to meet 70-80 per cent of the raw material demand, drastically reduce production costs and increase the competitiveness of Tamilnadu in the furniture sector.
The park’s first phase is expected to be fully operational in 4-5 years with an investment of Rs 1,500-1,800 crore, employing 1.1-1.5 lakh people. The second phase is likely to be fully operational in 8 to 10 years with an investment of Rs 3,500 crore-4,500 crore providing employment to 3-3.50 lakh people, said a State government release.
Stalin also inspected residential colonies in and around Thoothukudi city. He visited Bryant Nagar, Ambedkar Nagar and a few suburban locations.