CII Warns of Business Setbacks Without New Airport or Meenambakkam Expansion

Businesses in Tamil Nadu will face severe setbacks if a new airport is not constructed in the state or the existing airport at Meenambakkam in Chennai is not expanded within the next five years, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Southern Region President P Ravichandran warned on Thursday.

Speaking at a news conference in Coimbatore, Ravichandran highlighted the urgent need for infrastructure development to handle the state's increasing traffic. He suggested that if building a completely new airport is not possible, the government should focus on expanding the existing facility at Meenambakkam in Chennai to accommodate the growing demand.

Beyond airport infrastructure, Ravichandran emphasized the critical role of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the economy. He announced that the CII has established a dedicated committee aimed at guiding and driving the growth of these enterprises.

According to Ravichandran, the growth of MSMEs is essential for the country's economic health, particularly because the southern region contributes 34 percent to India's gross domestic product (GDP). Out of more than 10,000 MSMEs currently registered as members of the CII nationwide, 3,500 are situated in the southern region, with 1,700 of those operating in Tamil Nadu.

Ravichandran stressed the need for modernization within the sector, stating that a strong India can only be built if MSMEs thrive. He pointed out that despite the widespread shift toward digital platforms, many MSMEs have yet to adopt digital transmissions. To address this gap, the CII is actively launching initiatives to train and upgrade these businesses in digitization and artificial intelligence (AI).

In addition to technological upgrades, Ravichandran addressed labor challenges in the region. He noted that Tamil Nadu possesses a vast pool of women who could help resolve the ongoing labor shortage in the manufacturing sector, provided they receive appropriate industrial training.