The Southern India Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI) on Monday congratulated the new Tamil Nadu CM C Joseph Vijay and also laid down industry recommendations towards Tamil Nadu’s growth across sectors.
Tamil Nadu is one of India’s largest industrial, agricultural, services and export-oriented economies, however, sustaining the State’s competitiveness in an increasingly technology-driven, climate-sensitive and globally interconnected economy will require continuous policy adaptation, institutional coordination and strategic investments across sectors and regions, Arun Alagappan, President, SICCI, said.
Among the industry body’s recommendations, are a need for policy clarity and Ease of Doing Business. “Existing policies such as the Tamil Nadu Industrial Policy, Artificial Intelligence Policy, MSME Policy and Cybersecurity Policy should be reviewed and refreshed in line with new economic priorities. At the same time, new policies such as a Dairy Development Policy, Agri-Tech Policy and Diaspora Engagement Policy may also be considered,” Alagappan said.
Several mega infrastructure projects in the State, such as the Bangalore–Chennai Industrial Corridor, Vizag–Chennai Industrial Corridor and Chennai–Kanniyakumari Corridor, can deliver significant growth and employment if expedited, SICCI added. In terms of skill development, the organisation said that Tamil Nadu, which is known for its highly skilled manpower, can explore international labour mobility by targeting developed countries with ageing populations.
In case of exports, the industry body said that exporters currently have to work with diverse agencies such as Exim Bank, ECGC and EIA, which often function in silos. “There is a need to create an Export Facilitation Centre that will serve as a one-stop solution for all export-related requirements and help resolve disputes during the export process,” it said.
It also called for a focus on emerging sectors such as drones, space technology, semiconductors, green hydrogen and related industries. “Tamil Nadu should therefore create a dedicated drone corridor in the State, with a clear focus on defence applications, logistics, agricultural services, disaster response, infrastructure inspection, training and MRO services,” SICCI said. The proposed drone hub project in Chettinad should be fast-tracked, along with efforts to foster international collaboration in this sector, Alagappan added.
In agriculture, Tamil Nadu should look to strengthen its position in high-value agriculture, including horticulture, millets, pulses, dairy, fisheries-linked value chains and agri-exports, SICCI said.
Blue Economy, energy transition and a refreshed MSME policy are a few other areas where SICCI puts forward recommendations for the new government.
With AI adoption accelerating rapidly across Indian industry and job roles expected to undergo significant change by 2030, SICCI recommends a refreshed and standalone AI policy, adequate funding of the TNAI Mission, a TNAI procurement framework and focused efforts to secure the next round of the India AI Centre for Excellence.
“A TNAI Cities Charter can help accelerate the deployment of AI systems across urban management, traffic, healthcare, education, citizen services, disaster response and industrial planning,” Algappan said.
Published on May 11, 2026