Take steps to connect Southern Grid with rest of the country: Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

COIMBATORE: The Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry today urged the Centre to take steps to connect the Southern Grid with the rest of the country to tide over the power crisis in this part of the region.

In a memorandum submitted to Minister of State for commerce and industry Nirmala Seetharam, ICCI president (Coimbatore) D Nandakumar said issues related to electricity and formation of Bench of Appelate Tribunal for Electricity at Chennai and connecting Southern Grid with other parts of the country were the issues mentioned.

Establishment of a National Investment and Manufacturing Zone at Coimbatore, Extension of Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme for Engineering Industries, setting up of a Multi-modal Logistic Centre here for exporters and also for consideration of certain relaxation to private companies under the Companies Act 2013 also figured in the memorandum, he said.

Meanwhile, Tirupur Exporters Association (TEA) in its memoradum urged the minister to expedite the Free Trade Agreement, Comprehensive Economy Partnership Agrement and Comprehensive Economic Coopration Agreement with EU, Canada and Australia as exports from Tirupur could double in three years and provide more employment, particularly for women,if it was implemented.

TEA President A Sakthivel thanked the minister for including European Free Trade Association states, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein from country group C to A and make them eligible for Merchandise Exports from India Scheme reward rate at two per cent of FOB value of exports.

He requested inclusion of a few more countries like South American countries, South Africa, Russia, Australia and New Zeland, under MEIS reward rate where readymade garment export was taking place.

Reliance to launch its ambitious 4G telecom venture with over 1,000 'Jio Centers'.