Senthil Raj, Managing Director of SIPCOT (State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamilnadu), revealed during the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet (TNGIM) that a comprehensive framework for India’s inaugural net-zero industrial park, a joint effort between the Tamil Nadu and Singapore governments, is on track to be finalized within the coming year. This framework will serve as the blueprint for the establishment of the net-zero industrial park that SIPCOT aims to develop in the northern region of Chennai.
Last year marked a significant milestone as SIPCOT forged an agreement with the Singapore-India Partnership Office (SIPO) under the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI). This collaboration was solidified during the visit of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and other state ministers and officials to Singapore, aimed at promoting the TNGIM. The agreement focuses on jointly creating a sustainable industrial park, emphasizing the commitment to eco-friendly practices and fostering a strategic partnership between the two entities.
The co-operation between SIPCOT and MTI-SIPO brings together Singapore agencies like the Centre for Liveable Cities and JTC Corporation as knowledge partners for SIPCOT, the developer of industrial spaces in Tamil Nadu.
“After last year’s visit to Singapore and the signing of the MoU, we have been closely working with SIPCOT. Conversations have been going on between us. We keep learning from models of parks from several countries, such as Vietnam and Singapore, and trying to figure out how to arrive at our framework. We hope to conclude this in the next one year,” he said during a session at the TNGIM. .
Highlighting the net zero framework, Professor Tai Lee Siang, Head of Pillar, Architecture and Sustainable Design, Singapore University of Technology & Design, said the net zero industrial park project could be executed with a green masterplan and the establishment of green buildings that would tackle ‘business as usual. Other scopes would be “over” provision of renewable energy at the district and building level and increasing the network effect of a green district to mitigate logistics and supply chain carbon emissions.
“The issue of climate change can no longer be tackled by increasing green spending without addressing business as usual thoroughly and systematically. We need a major reset,” added Siang.
Earlier, Simon Wong, Singapore High Commissioner to India, said Singapore has been a long-standing partner for Tamil Nadu, and Singapore companies have committed to investing about INR 31,000 crore in Tamil Nadu across high-growth sectors such as sustainability and infrastructure, as well as collaboration in technology and skills. (Source The Business Line)
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