Vijay's UK trip bags Rs 12,300 crore investments, 10,000 jobs amid Opposition heat

Tamil Nadu on Monday announced investment commitments worth around Rs 12,300 crore during Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s visit to the United Kingdom, with the projects expected to create nearly 10,000 jobs across manufacturing, engineering and technology.

The deals were unveiled amid Opposition criticism of Vijay’s four-day trip after photographs showed him and actor Trisha at Ajith Kumar’s Le Mans Cup event at the Silverstone Circuit.

The largest commitment came from Samvardhana Motherson International Limited, which signed an MoU with Guidance Tamil Nadu along with its European and UK-based joint venture entities.

The auto component manufacturer will invest around Rs 11,000 crore over the next five years to establish integrated design, engineering, manufacturing, assembly and logistics facilities across Tamil Nadu. The project is expected to create nearly 7,000 jobs.

A UK-headquartered global communications company also signed an MoU with Guidance Tamil Nadu to establish a Global Capability Centre in the state.

The company, which was not identified in the government announcement, will invest around Rs 1,000 crore in the facility and create more than 2,000 jobs. The centre will come up along the newly announced GCC Corridor on Mount Poonamallee Road in Chennai.

Sweden-based Sigma Technology Group signed another MoU to expand its Global Capability Centres in Chennai and Tiruchirappalli through its Indian entity, Sria Solutions. The expansion is expected to create around 600 jobs in embedded systems, electrification and industrial digitalisation.

UK-based Wilson Power Solutions will invest Rs 300 crore in a manufacturing facility in Thiruvallur district. The project is expected to create around 400 jobs and strengthen the state’s electrical manufacturing sector.

Industries Minister S Keerthana said the investments reflected Tamil Nadu’s push to expand its manufacturing and technology base.

“Every investment strengthens our economy. Every job strengthens a family. Every new capability strengthens Tamil Nadu,” she said on X.

The investment figures also provided the government with a response to questions raised by the AIADMK, BJP and DMK about the purpose and itinerary of Vijay’s London visit.

AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, who had initially welcomed the investment trip, mocked Vijay after the Silverstone photographs emerged. “See how he is attracting investments,” he said.

BJP state president Nainar Nagendran sought details of the delegation, expenditure and investments secured, while DMK leaders questioned why senior Industries Department officials had not accompanied Vijay.

The Silverstone visit was reportedly linked to Tamil Nadu’s proposed Motor Sports City, with the delegation studying the circuit’s infrastructure and operations. Vijay and the TVK have not directly responded to the Opposition’s criticism.