Chennai, Feb (Reporter) The Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today, has introduced a transformative set of measures aimed at stimulating growth across critical sectors, including MSMEs, agriculture, education, and manufacturing, with a particularly significant impact on Tamil Nadu and the Southern Region. The Budget will promote inclusive growth and Tamil Nadu will benefit with increased productivity and exports, besides significantly benefitting the manufacturing sector . The Finance Minister’s announcement has received an overwhelmingly positive response, especially from the Southern Region CII members, due to its comprehensive approach to strengthen India’s industrial ecosystem. Her announcements will drive employment generation, foster social justice, and empower sectors crucial to India’s future growth. Dr R Nandini, Chairperson, CII Southern Region and Chairman, Chandra Textiles Limited, said “The budget focuses on creating a resilient industrial ecosystem by empowering MSMEs, enhancing credit facilities and promoting inclusive growth, especially for women and marginalized communities. This is a significant step towards achieving our vision of a self-reliant India by 2047.” 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. She said the introduction of a new Credit Card Scheme for Micro Enterprises, with a Rs five lakh limit, will further facilitate growth, with a target of issuing 10 lakh cards in the first year. Additionally, the inclusion of a new scheme for first-time entrepreneurs, particularly women, SC and ST individuals, providing term loans of up to Rs 2 crore, will empower 5 lakh new business owners over the next five years,” she added. On the agricultural front, the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana to cover 100 districts, supporting 1.7 crore farmers and providing enhanced loans through the KCC Mission to boost productivity was well received. “This initiative will bring much-needed support to Tamil Nadu’s agricultural community, especially with its focus on increasing credit access to farmers. In the field of education, the Budget emphasizes the development of 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs in government schools, ensuring that rural areas benefit from increased broadband connectivity in secondary schools and primary health centers. Furthermore, a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for Education will provide global expertise to enhance workforce development,” Dr Nandini said. Mr Srivats Ram, Chairman, CII Tamil Nadu State Council and MD, Wheels India, said Tamil Nadu’s manufacturing sector stands to benefit significantly from the Budget’s focus on high-tech industries, particularly in electric mobility and mobile phone battery production. The exemption of Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on cobalt powder, lithium-ion battery waste, and other critical minerals will support the growth of electric vehicle (EV) and mobile phone battery manufacturing. “Given Tamil Nadu’s robust auto and auto-ancillary sector, the government’s initiatives to enhance EV production and mobile phone battery manufacturing will drive substantial job creation and manufacturing growth in the region", he said. "Also, Tamil Nadu is expected to gain with new investments and added exports from the footwear and leather industry,” he pointed out. “Additionally, the expansion of 35 more capital goods for EV battery manufacturing and 28 capital goods for mobile phone battery manufacturing in the exempted list will lower the cost of setting up manufacturing plants, making India a more attractive destination for global lithium-ion battery manufacturers,” he added...////...