Industry must work in partnership with government: Venu Srinivasan

CHENNAI: Industry should work in partnership with the government and make competitiveness happen, said Venu Srinivasan, chairman and managing director, TVS Motor Company Ltd., on Friday.

Speaking on the theme ‘Improving manufacturing competitiveness,' at the 174 {+t} {+h} Annual General Meeting of the Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), he said the contribution of agriculture sector to GDP was declining and it was the manufacturing sector alone that could provide more jobs and growth. He said a one per cent growth in manufacturing could create jobs for 20 million to 30 million people, a growth other sectors were unable to provide. Productivity and flexibility were essential for India to maintain its cost advantage in global market and the resulting labour flexibility would lead to accelerated and inclusive growth.

In conclusion, Mr. Srinivasan said that India should have a sustainable development and green technologies, develop scale to target next billion customers, have leadership and innovation in new technologies and harness human resources for quality and productivity.

N. Murali, Senior Managing Director, Kasturi & Sons Ltd. and Rajeev Ranjan, Industry Secretary felicitated Mr. Srinivasan on being honoured with the Padma Shri.

Mr. Murali said that Mr. Srinivasan epitomised TVS group's value, trust, quality, integrity, business ethics and customer satisfaction. Mr. Srinivasan's passion for quality and commitment was well known. Mr. Srinivasan was not reluctant to dirty his hands on shop floor. Mr. Ranjan in his speech described Mr. Srinivasan as a versatile and multi-dimensional person whose contribution to industry and society was well known. He also said that the State government was willing to work with MCCI to further the cause of industrialisation.

N. Srinivasan, head of MCCI 175th year Celebrations Committee, said the Chamber would form a training centre for skill development near Oragadam; bring out a coffee table book on MCCI history and heritage; commission two major studies – infrastructure requirements and entrepreneurial eco system of the State; and open chapters in non-metro and in major cities in State.

Srinivasan K. Swamy, president, MCCI said that they would give full support to the State government to strengthen the cause of industrialisation in Tamil Nadu. T.T. Srinivasaraghavan, the president-elect, offered vote of thanks.