Industrialists, trade bodies in T.N. welcome Union Budget

Industrialists and Chambers of Commerce in Tamil Nadu hailed the Union Budget 2025-2026 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday.

“One of the highlights of the Budget is the enhancement of investment and turnover limits for MSMEs, offering more businesses access to government schemes and incentives. The introduction of a new Credit Card Scheme for Micro Enterprises will further facilitate growth. Additionally, the inclusion of a new scheme for first-time entrepreneurs, particularly women, SC, and ST individuals, providing term loans of up to ₹2 crore, will empower 5 lakh new business owners over the next five years,” said R. Nandini, Chairperson, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Southern Region, and Chairman, Chandra Textiles.

“Given Tamil Nadu’s robust auto and auto-ancillary sector, the government’s initiatives to enhance electric vehicle production and mobile phone battery manufacturing will drive substantial job creation and manufacturing growth in the region. Also, Tamil Nadu is expected to gain with new investments and added exports from the footwear and leather industry,” said Srivats Ram, Chairman, CII Tamil Nadu State Council, and MD, Wheels India.

Ramkumar Shankar, president, The Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the fiscal discipline displayed was particularly commendable, with the fiscal deficit on a reducing trend without an increase in borrowing levels.

Significant announcements have been made on infrastructure, measures to enhance the ease of doing business, rationalisation of taxation structures, and transport connectivity, he said.

Arun Alagappan, president, Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI), said the Union Budget had provided the much-needed stimulus to all the strategic components of India’s GDP, including agriculture, MSMEs and exports, while also boosting consumption, ushering in reforms, and rationalising taxes.

Ensuring that the fiscal deficit is under control is particularly important for India as it aims at attracting more foreign investment flows. On the whole, this budget is timely, balancing all the expectations of the stakeholders and delivering strongly on economic growth, he says.

V.L. Indira Dutt, President, Andhra Chamber of Commerce said Finance Minister’s emphasis on the ease of doing business to attract FDI was noteworthy in keeping the country vibrantly on the world stage and that overall, it was a Budget for sustaining the growth of the economy.

Linesh Sanatkumar, president, Hindustan Chamber of Commerce, says the Budget is balanced and helpful for MSME sector to achieve their growth aspirations and further employment generation.

G.S.K. Velu, chairman, FICCI TNSC, said the Budget’s focus on infrastructure development, healthcare, and innovation would bring substantial benefits to Tamil Nadu.

V.K. Girish Pandian, president of the Guindy Industrial Estate Manufacturer’s Association welcomed various announcements for MSMEs, but said the increase in MSME classification would bring in more large industries into the sector, who would take advantage of the benefits meant for MSME units.

Tamil Nadu Small and Tiny Industries Association president C.K. Mohan, while welcoming various proposals, said the revised investment turnover criteria for MSME, by including large industries, would affect the benefits to micro industries.