Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced that his week-long visit to Germany and the United Kingdom had secured 33 memoranda of understanding worth ₹15,516 crore. These agreements are expected to generate employment for 17,613 people. Addressing a press conference at Chennai airport on September 8 after his return, Stalin described the trip as a “fulfilling and huge success.”
New Projects in Hosur
The Chief Minister said he would travel to Hosur on September 11 to inaugurate a ₹2,000-crore Delta Electronics unit. He will also lay the foundation for projects valued at ₹1,100 crore. Similar to Thoothukudi, Hosur will host an investors’ meet aimed at drawing fresh proposals.
Fresh Investments Secured
According to Stalin, 10 new companies have pledged to invest in Tamil Nadu, while 17 firms already operating in the state chose to expand locally rather than shift to other states. He said meetings with leaders such as North Rhine-Westphalia Minister President Hendrik Wüst and UK MP Catherine West had helped strengthen economic partnerships.
Cultural Outreach and Diaspora Connect
Beyond investment talks, Stalin highlighted the cultural significance of his visit. He unveiled a portrait of social reformer Periyar at Oxford University, participated in the “Self-Respect Movement and its Legacies Conference” at St. Antony’s College, and met Tamil diaspora groups in Germany and the UK. He also visited the tomb of Karl Marx, the house of B.R. Ambedkar in London, the statue of Tiruvalluvar, and the grave of Tamil scholar G.U. Pope. Stalin urged the diaspora to remain united and contribute to Tamil Nadu’s growth.
Responding to Critics
Rejecting opposition criticism of his foreign tour, Stalin said the visit proved Tamil Nadu’s potential to global investors. “Earlier they thought only other states had the edge. Now they see Tamil Nadu’s strength,” he remarked. He also praised Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa and officials for making the trip successful.
