The Tamil Nadu Government has sanctioned Rs 84 crore for upgrading the roads linking Ennore Port, according to the Industries Secretary, Mr N. Sundaradevan.

Inadequate road links to the port has been a bugbear for industries dependent on the port for exports. Particularly, Japanese manufacturers including the automobile manufacturer Nissan and power generation equipment Toshiba have been urging the State Government to upgrade the road facilities.

Mr Sundaradevan, addressing a seminar on business opportunities for investors in Tamil Nadu and Kanagawa prefecture in Japan, said the State Government considers Japan an important partner in its economic development. Tamil Nadu has over 280 Japanese companies – nearly a third of the Japanese companies in India – and has benefitted from the investments.

Mr Shinya Fujii, Director-General, Japan External Trade Organisation, said the number of Japanese companies with a base in Tamil Nadu has quadrupled in the last five years. The Organisation, which facilitates Japanese investors, set up a presence overseas. It opened the office in Chennai in May 2010. It receives over 200 visitors every month and over 900 business enquiries.

Over one-fifth of Japanese investments in Tamil Nadu are from the Kanagawa prefecture.

Mr Masanori Nakano, Japanese Consul General in Chennai, said infrastructure development will contribute to increased investments from Japan. The Chennai-Bangalore industrial corridor is an important area for attracting investments and investors are keen on participating in infrastructure development in this region.

The Governor of Kanagawa prefecture, Mr Yuji Kuroiwa, said Kanagawa is a preferred destination for investment and tourism. Its location adjacent to the capital city, Tokyo, gives the advantage of proximity to a major city. The Government is keen on attracting investments, he said.

> rbalaji@thehindu.co.in

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