Jayalalithaa woos investors, targets $250 billion investment in infrastructure

Chennai: Inviting global investors to take advantage of industry-friendly policies of Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Wednesday said the state had set an investment target of $250 billion in the infrastructure sector in the coming years. “Investment in Tamil Nadu is a sound investment”, she said while inaugurating the ‘Global Investors Meet’ and an exhibition showcasing, among other things, the achievements of the state. [caption id=“attachment_2319828” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa. AFP[/caption] Jayalalithaa noted that Tamil Nadu was amongst the early states to capitalise on economic reforms launched in India in the early 1990s. She said that under the ‘Vision 2023’ initiated by the state government, the per capita income of the state will be raised to the levels of higher income countries. The Chief Minister recalled that automobile giants like Hyundai and Ford had set up manufacturing facilities in Tamil Nadu availing of the industry friendly policies of the state. The participants at the meet were treated to a glitzy cultural extravaganza including a programme by eminent dancer Urmila Sathyanarayana and her troupe. The main logo of the global investors meet ‘Pegasus’ was also unveiled on the occasion. Pegasus is an ancient Greek winged divine stallion usually depicted as pure white in color, showing development. The Tamil ‘Thai Vazhuthu’ (salutary song) was also sung on the occasion. Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Highways and Ports Pon Radhakrishnan and industry captains including HCL founder Shiv Nadar, Mahendra Group Chief Anand Mahendra and Sundaram Clayton Chairman Venu Srinivasan were present on the occasion. Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Delegations of partner nations ––– Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, France, Italy, UK, Singapore and the Russian Federation- are also taking part in the two-day event. PTI