Saxony assures Coimbatore of co-operation in many sectors
COIMBATORE: The State of Saxony (Germany) is prepared to share its expertise with Coimbatore in terms of transportation, drainage and solid waste management, Thomas Jurk, its Minister for Economic Affairs and Labour, said here on Thursday. He was speaking at a reception accorded to a 13-member German delegation by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Coimbatore District Small Scale Industries Association, the Roots Group of Companies and Lakshmi Machine Works. The Minister said Saxony had the highest per capita income in Germany thanks to its "technology and highest quality." The two factors were the result of the close co-operation between industry and teaching. The unique research facilities in the universities made Saxony the Mecca of technology .He was happy to note that world-class companies had been established in his country, especially after 1989, which manufactured innovative products and captured international markets.
Quoting Indian Commerce Minister Kamalnath, Mr. Jurk said: "We need not necessarily be competitors. German innovativeness could be combined with Indian manpower."
He pointed out that Coimbatore was one among the places surveyed by his State and it was very impressive. One of the areas he specified for co-operation between his State and Coimbatore was machine tool making. Appeal to investors:M. Raman, Tamil Nadu Industries Commissioner and Director of Industries, made a fervent appeal to the German entrepreneurs to invest in Tamil Nadu. "You may close your eyes and invest in Coimbatore," he said.
He pointed out that Coimbatore was one among the places surveyed by his State and it was very impressive. One of the areas he specified for co-operation between his State and Coimbatore was machine tool making. Appeal to investors:M. Raman, Tamil Nadu Industries Commissioner and Director of Industries, made a fervent appeal to the German entrepreneurs to invest in Tamil Nadu. "You may close your eyes and invest in Coimbatore," he said.
He pointed out that Tamil Nadu and Germany had several similarities. Both were conservative, slow and steady, but strong, very dependable and quality conscious. He referred to the extent of German co-operation and the State's relationship with Germany during the last few decades.
Elaborating the giant strides made by India in terms of industrial and economic growth, he said its Gross Domestic Product had recorded a growth of nine per cent but the inflation was just above five per cent. There was a strong possibility of recording even a 10 per cent GDP growth.
He dwelt at length on the enormous investment envisaged in infrastructure both from abroad and also at the local level. The huge foreign reserves, stable currency, stable political system and policies conducive for growth were some of the reasons for the current rosy picture.
Neeraj Mittal, District Collector, said Coimbatore could become the engine for industrial growth and could also be the leader for the industrial production and also IT. The major factors were the enormous human capital and best entrepreneurship. Already, the district was exporting to the tune of $3 billion of which $2 billion was contributed by the hosiery town of Tirupur alone. Textile machinery and precision engineering, apart from textiles and automobile ancillaries, were its strength.
Allaying the apprehensions of investors regarding the city's infrastructure, he said $1 billion would be pumped into this sector under the National Urban Renewal Mission.
Jayakumar Ramdass, chairman, local chapter of the CII, said there was tremendous scope for co-operation between Germany and Coimbatore in several spheres including automobiles, machinery, equipment, agro and food processing.
Jayakumar Ramdass, chairman, local chapter of the CII, said there was tremendous scope for co-operation between Germany and Coimbatore in several spheres including automobiles, machinery, equipment, agro and food processing.
Source:The Hindu
