Plea for SEZ in Tiruchi will be taken up with Chief Minister: Nehru

Special Correspondent

Suggests interaction between industry and Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran

TIRUCHI: The plea for setting up a special economic zone for heavy
engineering industries in the district will be taken up with the Chief
Minister, Transport Minister K.N. Nehru said here on Saturday.

This and other demands put forward by the BHEL Small and Medium
Industries Association (BHELSSIA) will be followed up, Mr. Nehru said
inaugurating a seminar on "Opportunities in fabrication and engineering
industries" organised by the District Industries Centre.

The association sought the expansion of the Nagapattinam port to
facilitate exports from the region and strengthening of infrastructure
at the Small Industries Development Corporation Industrial Estate at
Tiruverambur.

Mr. Nehru suggested that an interaction be arranged between industry
representatives of Tiruchi and Union Minister for Communication and
Information Technology Dayanidhi Maran to discuss ways to expedite
industrialisation.

Forest Minister N. Selvaraj said Tiruchi was ideally placed and
possessed good infrastructure to attract more investments. The
Government's decision to set up a special economic zone at Perambalur
would have beneficial spin-off for the city.

Collector Ashish Vachhani said the district administration had recently
transferred about 135 acres to the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu
for setting up an Information Technology Park. Several IT majors were
expected to set up their base here by next year.

A. Chandra Babu, General Manager, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited,
suggested that prospective entrepreneurs could explore the feasibility
of setting up industries in the Mathur area along the Pudukottai Highway.

R. Srinivasan, field officer, Engineering Export Promotion Council, said
export of engineering goods was growing by about 15 per cent every year
in the country.

During 2005-06, about Rs.16,220 crore worth of goods were exported from
the southern region. Of this, exports from Tamil Nadu accounted for
about 60 per cent.

Mayor Sarubala R. Tondaiman, K. Govindarajan, General Manager, District
Industries Centre spoke.
http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/11/stories/2007021103990400.htm