The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Coimbatore, and Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore Chapter jointly organized an interactive session with Dr.Darez Ahamed, IAS, Managing Director & CEO – Guidance, Department of Industries, Investment Promotion & Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu, on Friday.

Dr.Darez Ahamed, in his address, shared insights from his recent visit to Germany, where he observed that many Mittelstand (SME) companies have established direct connections and partnerships with Coimbatore-based firms. These German companies highly appreciated the cost-effective problem-solving capabilities of Coimbatore companies, which prompted his visit to understand the city's industrial strength further.

He remarked that Coimbatore has the potential to contribute 30-40% to Tamil Nadu’s GDP, aligning with the state’s vision of achieving a $1 trillion economy. He acknowledged existing bottlenecks, including infrastructure challenges, and informed the audience that the Eastern and Western bypass road projects are currently under proposal.

Regarding air connectivity, Dr. Ahamed mentioned that the Industries Secretary is in discussions with airline companies to explore improved flight options for Coimbatore. He emphasized that although Coimbatore is officially classified as a Tier-2 city, it is perceived by Fortune 500 companies and MNCs as a Tier-1 city and a preferred "Bangalore +1" destination.

He highlighted GCCs (Global Capability Centers), R&D, and logistics as key focus areas for investment and encouraged local businesses to make better use of the Single Window System, Biz Buddy, and MOU facilities provided by Guidance for faster approvals, tools already widely used by MNCs. He appreciated the contributions of civic society initiatives like Siruthuli and praised the strength of Coimbatore’s industry associations. He also emphasized the importance of initiatives such as the Buyers-Sellers Meet at CODISSIA and mentioned plans to organize similar meets for other sectors.

Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar, IAS, District Collector of Coimbatore, stated that the Kongu region is the growth engine of Tamil Nadu.

He lauded the people-driven nature of the district, where innovative ideas often originate and spread. He highlighted how suggestions from citizens and industry leaders have been incorporated into government actions. Coimbatore, he said, has seen significant growth in the past 3-4 years, with projects such as the airport expansion, multimodal logistics park, metro rail, and the city master and mobility plans progressing well.

Rajesh Doraiswamy, Chairman, CII Coimbatore Zone and Joint Managing Director, Salzer Electronics Ltd., expressed gratitude to the Guidance Bureau and the Government of Tamil Nadu for their seamless efforts in attracting investments. He described Coimbatore as a self-made city that has evolved from textiles to IT and GCCs, while still holding on to its core values.

He highlighted the city’s entrepreneurial spirit and noted the potential in sectors like GCC, logistics, and semiconductors, where CII Coimbatore is actively preparing white papers and initiatives. He urged that Coimbatore's current 15% contribution to the state GDP should be scaled up to 30% in line with the $1 trillion goal.

Rajesh B Lund, President, Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore Chapter and Director, Srivari Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd., thanked Guidance and the Tamil Nadu Government for their infrastructure efforts, including metro rail, airport expansion, TIDEL IT parks, defence parks, and semiconductor hubs. He stressed the need for support on the Eastern bypass project, enhanced air connectivity, and expressed concern that Coimbatore lacks a major industrial park, which is critical for future growth.

Vanitha Mohan, Past President, Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore Chapter and Chairperson, Pricol Ltd., praised Coimbatore's vibrant community where industries, NGOs, and farmers collaborate for city development.

She reiterated that air connectivity remains a major concern, referencing the recent CODISSIA expo, where North Indian companies came to exhibit, a sign of Coimbatore’s growing appeal. She emphasized that with industrial expansion, waste management and air quality must be priorities to ensure a livable environment and the preservation of natural resources.

Dr.S K Sundararaman, Chairman, The Southern India Mills' Association & Managing Director, Shiva Texyarn Ltd and Mr K M Subramaniam, President, Tiruppur Exporters' Association & Chairman, K M Knitwear Private Ltd also addressed at the meeting.

Members from various associations participated in the meeting and shared their perspectives on sector-specific needs, expectations, and requests for support from Guidance.