Davos 2025: 'I know how investments came to Tamil Nadu and went to Gujarat,' says TN minister TRB Rajaa

The panel discussion moderated by Moneycontrol on the sidelines of World Economic Forum 2025 summit in Davos

Tamil Nadu Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion, and Commerce TRB Rajaa said he is aware about the investments that came to Tamil Nadu but eventually went to Gujarat, joining the Karnataka ministers who had earlier accused the Union government of pressuring investments to Gujarat.

Speaking during a panel discussion moderated by Moneycontrol on the sidelines of World Economic Forum 2025 summit in Davos,  Rajaa said: “I personally know how investments came to Tamil Nadu and went to Gujarat".

Also, read: Karnataka IT minister Priyank Kharge alleges PM Modi pressuring companies to invest in Gujarat

He said that Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu compete, but it’s ultimately for India. "I’m happy if investments go to Gujarat but ensure that they thrive there. Bring that investment and ensure it succeeds. Don’t take it to a place where there’s no talent to leverage that investment. If you want them, tell us, so we don’t waste time negotiating incentives. Tamil Nadu is a resilient state.”

He further said: “We have been investing in education and training our talent. India became an automatic choice when the ‘China Plus One’ strategy emerged. Tamil Nadu was prepared for that shift. Being proactive and future-focused has always been our strength. We are a manufacturing powerhouse, and we have always stayed ahead of the curve".

Rajaa said: “We didn’t become the SaaS capital overnight and we were prepared for it. The Tamil Nadu story is always about being future-ready. We learn from global trends and adapt. Being prepared for the future is what Tamil Nadu is all about.”

Also, read: Union govt should not dictate to semiconductor companies on where to invest: Karnataka minister MB Patil  

Arun Roy, Industries Secretary, Tamil Nadu, added, “We have implemented a slew of administrative reforms and gone above and beyond to meet investor expectations. We customise based on what investors require. For example, some major electronic component manufacturers asked us to invest in housing for workers, and we delivered. This kind of flexibility has made Tamil Nadu highly competitive.”

Also, read: WEF 2025: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala gear up to woo global investors at Davos