Though Tamil Nadu has emerged a major hub for the automotive sector and is popularly known as the Detroit of India, the State is now evolving into a major destination for the aerospace industry too.
This was stated by Mr. P. Kaniappan, Convenor, CII TN Manufacturing Competitiveness Panel, and Whole-time Director, WABCO India Ltd., in his welcome address at the 5th edition of the “Tamil Nadu Manufacturing Summit” with the theme “Raising the Manufacturing Eco-System to the Next Level”, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Chennai.
In his inaugural address, Mr. Bharat Joshi, British Deputy High Commissioner, Chennai, said that in the manufacturing sector “the UK is your partner of choice”. Home to the world’s largest aerospace industry, the UK has world leading capabilities in aerospace and the whole range of engineering discipline. Further, British manufacturing companies have end-users across the globe in wide-ranging sectors like aerospace, automotive, chemical, construction, oil and gas, mining, healthcare, pharmaceutical, printing and publishing and steel industries.
The latest lean manufacturing process and techniques developed by UK’s advanced manufacturing sector enabled customers to improve their productivity, flexibility and quality. The UK companies are also aware that Indian companies are keen on joint ventures and sharing of technologies with them, he added.
In his keynote address, Mr. Hans Raj Verma, Principal Secretary, and Chairman and Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. (TIDCO), said that the State could very well become a leader in aerospace industries with its strong medium and small industry clusters, skilled manpower and other infrastructure facilities.
He said: “We have to build the brand equity that ‘Made in India’, particularly Made in Tamil Nadu, should have a distinct value, credibility and distinct premium in the world market, and it is doable”. With this perspective the State can be the leader of defence and aerospace industries as has been envisaged in the Vision 2023 of the State Government.
Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai, Chief Controller (R&D), DRDO, and CEO and Managing Director, BrahMos Aerospace Private Ltd., who was the guest of honour on the occasion, said the mature manufacturing base, supply of skilled manpower and a visionary Government would help Tamil Nadu achieve manufacturing competitiveness in aerospace and defence industries. This would boost the State economy and create huge job opportunities.
Mr. Narayan Sethuramon, Chairman, CII Tamil Nadu State Council, and Managing Director and CEO, WS Industries (India) Ltd., said the announcement in the Tamil Nadu budget for 2014-15 of an allocation of funds for the proposed Global Investors’ Meet in October, setting up of 10 clusters for MSME, the green energy corridor, development of southern districts and for skill development augured well for the manufacturing sector.
Mr. Venkatesh Chandrasekaran, Co-Convenor, CII TN Manufacturing Competitveness Panel, and Director, CVIAC Consulting Pvt. Ltd., proposed a vote of thanks.