Tamil Nadu

Industrial Development & Investment (GCC Hubs)

Starbucks Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Chennai:
- Event: The Tamil Nadu government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Starbucks to establish its Global Capability Centre in Chennai.
- Employment Impact: The facility is projected to create 800 high-value jobs in its initial phase.

Tamil Nadu Rooftop Solar Subsidy Scheme:
- Scheme Launch: Energy Resources Minister officially launched the scheme along with a dedicated application portal.
- Budget & Target: Allocated ₹50 crore for the current financial year, setting a target to cover 1 lakh households by March 2027.
- Financial Assistance Structure (Combined Central & State Subsidy):
  - 1 kW: ₹35,000
  - 2 kW: ₹70,000
  - 3 kW: ₹1,00,000

India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA):
- Enforcement Date: The ratified FTA comes into official effect on October 20, 2026.
- Bilateral Trade Target: Aims to double bilateral trade to ₹35,000 crore (from the current baseline of $1.3 billion) over the next 4 to 5 years.
- Tariff Protections: New Zealand eliminates tariffs on 100% of Indian products. India fully protected sensitive agricultural and dairy sectors (dairy, onions, almonds, chickpeas, sugar), granting zero concessions on these lines.