Trade and industry associations from across the State have vowed to work along with the government on issues that impact the progress of Tamil Nadu.

The ‘Coming Together’ of the various industry bodies is in the backdrop of the State’s recent demotion in rating for ‘ease of doing business.’

‘Coming together’ That Tamil Nadu has been pushed in ranking to the 18th position from its previous rank of 12 among all States in India seems to have come as a rude shock to the industry and trade bodies.

Representatives from around 14 Chambers of commerce and industry met here on Saturday to exchange views and initiate ideas on how trade bodies can help steer the state on a path of progress.

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

Asserting that the trade associations would examine how the state slipped in the ranking, Rethinavelu said, “Many issues continue 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 and so on.”

Water scarcity is hurting the rural economy because of lack of policy and initiatives to maintain and preserve water resources, he said.

“Air connectivity to the southern districts has been pathetic despite the huge potential for doing business in many of them, 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,” he added.

Vanitha Mohan, President, Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore, who initiated the idea of ‘Coming Together’, said this is just the beginning. “We will work together on some of the common issues impacting the state’s trade and industry,” she added.

Demonetisation Asked about the impact on the trade due to demonetisation, Rethinavelu said, “We welcome the decision, but there are issues in implementation. Trade has been affected pretty much – 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,” he added.

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