Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on 7th March 2022 laid the foundation stone for India’s first international furniture park at Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu. The 1,156 acres park will be set up in Meelavattan and South Veerapandiyapuram in the Thoothukudi district, 13 km from the VOC Port.
The facility has been designed to fulfil 70-80 per cent of its raw material demands in house, and will increase competition in the international market, the chief minister said, pointing out that a Belgium-based company, making wooden doors and windows, will establish a unit here at a cost of Rs 430 crore. “Besides, many establishments have come forward to start units at an estimated value of Rs 300-750 crore,” Stalin said.
Some of the companies that signed MoUs include Hettich (investment of Rs 750 crore), New Century (Rs 400 crore), Deceuninck (Rs 400 crore), Vikas (Rs 320 crore) and Marque Impex (Rs 150 crore), etc., as per report.
The park’s first phase is expected to be fully operational in 4-5 years with an investment of Rs 1,500-1,800 crore, employing 1.1-1.5 lakh people. The second phase is likely to be fully operational in 8 to 10 years with an investment of Rs 3,500 crore-4,500 crore providing employment to 3-3.50 lakh people, says a State government release.