Date:04/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/04/stories/2006100408100400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Karunanidhi promises support for Singapore-India Economic Zone

Special Correspondent

Tamil Nadu is the ideal place for the project: Senior Minister

SEEKING SUPPORT: Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Singapore Balaji Sadasivan with Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, at his residence, in Chennai, on Tuesday. — Photo : M. Vedhan

CHENNAI: Singapore's Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Balaji Sadasivan on Tuesday said Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi agreed to support the Singapore-India Economic Zone, proposed to be set up in the State.

Shortly after meeting the Chief Minister at his residence here, Mr. Sadasivan said he discussed with Mr. Karunanidhi the project. The proposal was also discussed at the level of the Governments of Singapore and India.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was briefed about the proposal, he added.

Cultural ties

When the question on the location of the economic zone arose, "we found that Tamil Nadu is the ideal place for this project" in view of the State's proximity to Singapore. He said that his country and Tamil Nadu had cultural ties for a long period.

Describing Tamil Nadu as a power-driven State, he said a lot of developments had been taking place in the State.

Little Singapore

As the manufacturing cost of products was high in Singapore, industrialists were looking for new places to invest with a view to reducing the cost of production, he said, adding that the proposed project would be like a "little Singapore in India."

In the integrated Singapore-India Economic Zone, all sectors would be covered, though electronics would form the main sector. Officials were working out details of the project, Mr.Sadasivan said.

Minister for Electricity Arcot N.Veerasamy, who was present at the meeting, said the project would come up along the Chennai-Kolkata National Highway, close to the city.

Mr. Sadasivan was accompanied by Director (South Asia and Sub-Sharan Africa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs) S.Premjith, Assistant Director (South Asia Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Harry Goh, Assistant Director (South Asia, Ministry of Trade and Industry) Wong Choo Sin and Country Officer (South Asia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Eunice Lee.