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Coimbatorebest.com met K G Balakrishnan, Chairman
of KG Denim and Sri Kannapiran Mills Limited, and
spoke to him about the Trade and Commerce scenario in Coimbatore
today.
What do you feel are the strengths that Coimbatore possesses as
a city, in the commercial and industrial arena?
 Work
Culture, efficient labour, best entrepreneurship, best climate,
sweet water, and good air, rail and road connections. The best
strength is of course the production of ‘brain power’
with the 20 odd engineering colleges and over 50 polytechnics.
Every year nearly 6,000 engineering brains are produced here and
also we have three top class medical colleges, a forest college,
and one of the best agricultural universities in the country.
What do you feel are the areas that need attention for further
growth in the city?
The areas that need attention…well (pauses and with a smile
on his face) ‘Independence from India’…that is what
is needed...‘Economic Independence’. We should be declared
a Free Trade Zone. Not only the city of Coimbatore but also the
surrounding areas like Nilgiris, Erode, Karur and Salem districts.
The whole of this area should be declared as a Free Trade Zone.
This is so that we can develop ourselves better in the areas of
communication, transport and other infrastructure.
Where do you think Coimbatore stands in comparison to other
industrialised cities in the country?
No 1. The only thing lacking is nightlife. There are no bars,
clubs or other entertainment options in the city. These are all
necessities for a tourist or for an outside investor include FII’s
and FD’s. More high end restaurants, bars and dining options
are needed to attract this category of people. Coimbatore has been
called as the ‘health care hub for South India’ –
I would say Coimbatore offers the best in health care at affordable
costs.
Your experience in the course of funding the CSX?
Every one cooperated and It was a model exchange. Ramakrishna
the Chairman of SEBI hailed it as a model exchange. Now of course
it is a multiple exchange. Nowhere else are all the facilities
that are available here found any where else.
On CODISSIA
CODISSIA will certainly result in better business development.
It will attract a lot of investors to the city. It was the result
of teamwork and is the first step towards making Coimbatore the
‘Hannover of India’.
On the Indian Chamber for Commerce and Industry
Every one in this city has contributed to make it what it is today.
ICCIC has done it since its inception. Before the Corporation came
about it was the Chamber, which looked after and did a lot of things
and created infrastructure like roads and so on. It has done a
lot of things towards improving infrastructure and creating more
business opportunities by playing a crucial role in bringing in
new flights, new trains and bypass roads.
Text - Joseph Pradeep Raj R
Photographs- V Ganesan |
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