In response to statements made by the Leader of the Opposition, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Industries, TRB Raja, has announced that under Chief Minister MK Stalin’s leadership, the state has secured investments exceeding Rs 10 lakh crore and created 31 lakh job opportunities over the past three years.Minister Raja dismissed Palaniswami’s recent comments on foreign investments and industrial growth in Tamil Nadu as ‘baseless and lacking fundamental understanding.’ He pointed out that while Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) had decreased across India during the 2023-24 period, Tamil Nadu saw a 12.3% increase in investments.
Over the past three years alone, Tamil Nadu has confirmed investments amounting to over Rs 10 lakh crore, resulting in the creation of 31 lakh jobs, according to the minister.
Raja also highlighted that, despite various challenges, the state is close to securing significant investments in the semiconductor industry, a milestone that is expected to be achieved soon.
Taking a dig at Palaniswami, who previously aligned with the BJP, Raja noted that during Palaniswami’s tenure, no significant investment was brought into the textile sector. In contrast, under the DMK government, several incentives worth over Rs 500 crore, including a 6% interest subsidy, have been announced for the textile industry. Since 2021, the sector has attracted investments totaling Rs 20,162 crore.
The minister further emphasized that Chief Minister Stalin’s international visits to countries like the UAE, Singapore, Japan, and Spain have resulted in investments worth Rs 10,881 crore and created 17,371 jobs. These efforts have ensured balanced and widespread development across the state.
Looking ahead, Raja expressed confidence that Tamil Nadu is on track to achieve its economic goal of becoming a Rs 1 trillion economy (equivalent to Rs 83 lakh crore). He urged political opponents to set aside partisan criticisms and take pride in Tamil Nadu’s growth and progress as fellow Tamilians.
The minister concluded by asserting that Tamil Nadu’s development under the current administration is something to be celebrated, rather than criticized.