Indian businesses have been paying tributes to J Jayalalithaa, the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu, who passed away on Monday (December 5, 2016) in Chennai. The state is one of the more progressive ones in India from a business point of view.
There are many manufacturing facilities of Indian and foreign firms such as Ashok Leyland, TVS, TTK, Renault, Nissan, Ramco Cements, Damia Cements, Ford, MRF and Eicher Motors, to name a few.
Top information technology (IT) companies such as Wipro, Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) also have their offices in Chennai, the state's capital.
Tamil Nadu has traditionally enjoyed a conducive business environment that has attracted many companies, apart from efforts by successive governments to woo firms to set up bases there.
Jayalalithaa's vision was a key factor in attracting enterprises to the state, according to the chief executive of a tractor company.
"Her (Jayalalithaa) dynamism and far-sightedness drew industry and investment to the state and the economic progress under her leadership has been very significant," Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman and CEO of Tractors and Farm Equipment Ltd (TAFE), said on Tuesday, reported IANS.
Anand Mahindra of the Mahindra & Mahindra Group also acknowledged her contribution to the state's development.
Saddened by Jayalalithaaji's demise. Got to know her when she inaugurated Mahindra Ford's Chennai plant&then Mahindra World City (1/2)
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) December 5, 2016
Memories of interactions with Jayalalithaaji rushing back.Iron Lady,certainly,but with a wry sense of humour & the gift of eloquence (2/2)
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) December 5, 2016
Harsh Goenka, chairman of RPG Enterprises, also praised Jayalalithaa for her courage in Indian politics that is predominantly a male domain.
Keeping aside her politics and power. She was one brave women that refused to be cowed down in a dominating man's world #jayalalithaa RIP
— Shekhar Kapur (@shekharkapur) December 6, 2016
In a statement, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (Ficci) also paid tributes to the departed leader.
"Jayalalithaa was an extraordinary political leader who made relentless efforts for the economic progress of the Tamil Nadu and single-handedly conceptualised the vision document Vision 2023 Tamil Nadu, setting the plan for infrastructure development for the state," Ficci said in a statement, according to PTI.
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, chairperson of Biocon, described Jayalalithaa as "influential."
Jayalalitha was one the most powerful, influential and courageous political leaders of our https://t.co/sJWgCqetVH
— Kiran Mazumdar Shaw (@kiranshaw) December 6, 2016
