The manufacturing landscape of Tamil Nadu witnessed a landmark day on Thursday, 26 February 2026, as the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) hosted its Chennai Zone Annual Session at the Hotel ITC Grand Chola, Chennai. The event served as both a reflection on a successful year and a strategic launchpad for the future of the region's industry.
Reflecting on Excellence: The Business Session
The evening commenced with the Business Session, chaired by Mr. Ajit Chordia, Chairman of the CII Chennai Zone. The session was dedicated to celebrating the milestones of the 2025-26 period:
- 🔹 Year in Review: Mr. Chordia presented the key activities and highlights that defined the CII Chennai Zone’s impact over the past year.
- 🔹 Celebrating Leadership: The Annual Report was officially released by Mr. AR Unnikrishnan, Chairman of the CII Tamil Nadu State Council, followed by a felicitation of annual sponsors and appreciation from past chairmen.
- 🔹 Passing the Baton: A pivotal moment occurred with the appointment of the Office Bearers for 2026-27, marked by an acceptance speech from the incoming Chairman and closing remarks from the incoming Vice Chairman.
Building the Future: The Public Session
The transition to the Public Session shifted the focus toward a broader industrial vision: "Building India's Manufacturing Future: Transitioning from Legacy Systems to Innovation".
- 🔹 Regional Perspectives: Mr. P Ravichandran (President, Danfoss India) and Mr. Shashwat Goenka (Chairman, CII Eastern Region) provided high-level insights into the shifting paradigms of manufacturing and retail.
- 🔹 The Keynote: Mr. Vellayan Subbiah, Vice Chairman of Tube Investments of India, delivered a powerful keynote address exploring how Indian businesses can move beyond legacy systems to embrace true innovation.
- 🔹 Interactive Dialogue: The session concluded with an engaging interaction between industry leaders and the audience, moderated by Mr. R V Chari, Vice Chairman of the CII Chennai Zone.
Empowering Grassroots: The Market Connect Pavilion
Running parallel to these high-level discussions was a vibrant Market Connect – Product Display Pavilion. Organized by CII CEL (Centre of Excellence on Employment & Livelihood) and the CII Foundation, this initiative provided a critical platform for Micro & Small Businesses to showcase their potential.
Enterprises like Ermunai Organic Farm Foods utilized dedicated table spaces in Rajendra Hall to display their products and marketing materials to the region's top industrial leaders. This integration of micro-enterprises into the Annual Session underscored CII’s commitment to building a holistic and inclusive industrial ecosystem.
A Night of Networking
The session culminated in a Networking Dinner, where the day’s discussions evolved into new partnerships and collaborative ideas. From the factory floors of local micro-businesses to the boardrooms of global conglomerates, the event proved that Chennai’s manufacturing future is bright, innovative, and deeply connected.