Industry and trade associations from across Tamil Nadu today decided to work along with the Government on issues which impacted the growth and progress of the State.

“We will now work as united force and represent the issues impacting Tamil Nadu to the Centre. There is no dearth of funds at the Centre, but we need to place our demand,” S. Rethinavel, senior president, Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Madurai, said.

He was briefing reporters on the deliberations of a meeting ‘Coming Together’ of the various industry bodies, in the backdrop of the State’s recent demotion in rating for “Ease of Doing Business”.

“Tamil Nadu has been pushed to the 18th position from 12th and it has come as a rude shock to the industry and trade bodies. which prompted to have meeting like this with 14 Chambers of Commerce and Industry,” he said.
After exchanging views and initiate ideas on how trade bodies can help steer the State on a path of progress, the meeting decided to work along with the Government, he said, adding that the associations would introspect to understand why the State was demoted in rating for ease of doing business.

“Many issues continued to plague the State, key among them being time-bound clearances for projects, transparent accountable process, construction and infrastructure approvals, power connections, land use conversions. Non-availability of water has killed the rural economy because of lack of policy and initiatives towards maintaining and preserving water resources. Corporatisation of agriculture is the need of the hour to make agriculture a viable proposition and lure youngsters into it and single window clearance for ease of operation,” Rethinavel said.

President of local chapter of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vanitha Mohan said that the coming together was just the beginning. “We will work together on some of the common issues impacting the State’s trade and industry,” she said.

Asked about the impact of demonetisation on trade, Rethinavel said though they welcomed the decision, there were issues in implementation. “Trade has been affected close to 50 to 80 per cent, mostly because of the shortage of lower denomination notes. But this is only for a temporary period. We understand it and people are adjusting to the situation. No one is starving,” he said.