Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin highlighted the critical role of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups in achieving Tamil Nadu’s ambitious goal of becoming a $1 trillion economy. Speaking at an event organized by the Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission (StartupTN), he stressed that these sectors are as important as large corporations in driving economic growth. He urged for the establishment of start-ups across all districts of Tamil Nadu by individuals from diverse backgrounds.Udhayanidhi underscored the state government’s commitment to providing global exposure and connections for start-ups. “With the aim of providing global exposure and connection to start-up companies operating in our State, the Tamil Nadu government established the Global Startup Coordination Centre in Dubai. Similar centers will soon be established in Singapore and the United States,” he announced.
He further elaborated that the government is actively facilitating start-ups’ access to international business markets and participation in prominent business exhibitions. He cited the recent GITEX event in Dubai, where 19 Tamil Nadu-based start-ups were sponsored to participate. He also mentioned that 18 start-ups will attend another significant start-up event soon.
Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi inaugurated several new initiatives aimed at strengthening the state’s start-up ecosystem. The key programs include:
Periyar Social Justice Venture Lab: This initiative will offer specialized advisory services, coaching, and acceleration programs for social enterprises, climate action projects, and SC/ST start-up founders at both pre-investment and post-investment stages.
Thozhil Nayam: A dedicated design studio focused on empowering direct-to-consumer (D2C) start-ups by facilitating successful listings on various e-commerce platforms.
Additionally, Mr. Udhayanidhi distributed sanction letters for the establishment of pre-incubation centres (PICs) aimed at nurturing innovative business ideas at their nascent stage. StartupTN plans to roll out these PICs throughout the state, particularly in Tier II and Tier III cities where incubation centres are not yet widespread. These centres will primarily support the student community, helping them develop proof of concepts and prototypes.
MSME Minister T.M. Anbarasan and Sivarajah Ramanathan, CEO of StartupTN, were also present at the event, reinforcing the government’s collaborative approach towards fostering entrepreneurship and innovation.