CII Southern Region to Drive South India’s Competitiveness Through Growth, Sustainability and Innovation: P Ravichandran
Chennai, June 3, 2026: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Southern Region will focus on accelerating South India’s competitiveness by fostering growth, resilience, inclusion, sustainability and trust, said P Ravichandran, Chairman, CII Southern Region and President of Danfoss India, during his maiden press conference in Chennai on Wednesday.
Having assumed office as Chairman of CII Southern Region for 2026-27, Ravichandran outlined an ambitious roadmap aimed at strengthening South India’s position as a key driver of India’s economic progress. He noted that the southern states contribute nearly 32 per cent of the nation’s GDP, around 30 per cent of manufacturing Gross Value Added (GVA), and almost 40 per cent of India’s total services output. The region recorded a combined GDP of ₹57.16 lakh crore in FY25, underlining its role as one of the country’s strongest economic engines.
Joining him at the press conference was Krishna Bodanapu, Executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Cyient Ltd, who has taken over as Deputy Chairman of CII Southern Region for the year.
Ravichandran said the theme for 2026-27, “Accelerating South India’s Competitiveness: Growth, Resilience, Inclusion, Sustainability, Trust,” will guide CII’s initiatives across critical sectors. Priority areas include manufacturing and MSME growth, digital transformation and artificial intelligence, green transition and energy security, talent development, agri-value chains, food processing, infrastructure, logistics, global market access, tourism and the sports economy.
Highlighting the organisation’s achievements over the past year, he said CII Southern Region established 56 committees and task forces to address industry concerns and policy issues. The organisation submitted 159 representations to state governments, of which 41 were accepted or partially accepted. More than 60 high-level engagements were conducted to promote MSME-friendly policies, sustainability, ease of doing business and workforce development.
Focusing on Tamil Nadu, Ravichandran described the state as one of India’s most powerful economic centres. Tamil Nadu recorded a real Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of ₹17.32 lakh crore in FY25, the highest among southern states. The state also emerged as the leading exporter in the region with merchandise exports worth $53.9 billion and registered the largest manufacturing GVA at ₹3.77 lakh crore.
He said Tamil Nadu’s diversified industrial ecosystem spanning automobiles, electric vehicles, electronics, textiles, IT and global capability centres, defence, aerospace and precision engineering has made it a national leader in manufacturing. The state accounts for 36 per cent of India’s two-wheeler production, 25 per cent of four-wheeler production and over 60 per cent of EV two-wheeler manufacturing, while electronics exports touched $14.65 billion in FY25.
As part of its long-term vision, CII has recommended positioning Tamil Nadu as India’s most competitive and globally connected industrial economy. Key proposals include strengthening the state’s global brand, developing it into a leading talent hub by 2032, promoting Tier-II cities as employment centres, improving power sector efficiency, enhancing policy support for EVs, semiconductors, electronics, defence and MedTech industries, and accelerating approvals through the Vetri TN single-window platform.
Ravichandran said CII will continue to engage with the Tamil Nadu government on issues such as delays in approvals from planning and regulatory authorities, environmental clearances, electricity connections and renewable energy grid integration. The industry body will also advocate faster commercial dispute resolution, improved access to credit for MSMEs, greater participation in the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), and enhanced support for export-ready manufacturing units.
Emphasising South India’s future potential, he said the region is well positioned to create a new manufacturing growth model powered by Industry 4.0 technologies, AI adoption, digital transformation, sustainability and stronger global linkages. CII Southern Region will continue to act as a bridge between industry and government while promoting investments, exports, job creation and inclusive economic development across the region.
****
