FEBRUARY 20268TAMIL NADU SIGNS INR 5,980 CRORE MoU IN ELECTRONICS & AEROSPACEUNILEVER SEES STRONG VOLUME GROWTH IN INDIA, SAYS CEO FERNANDEZTamil Nadu has signed fresh investment agreements worth 5,980 crore to strengthen its position in electronics manufacturing and aerospace manufacturing, marking a major push to attract high-value industries into the state. The Tamil Nadu government formalized two key MoUs aimed at expanding advanced production capabilities, boosting exports, and generating large-scale employment across key industrial corridors.Unilever's business fundamentals in India are showing signs of improvement, with the country being a key contributor to the company's global growth.According to Unilever CEO Fernando Fernandez, India is one of the anchor markets of the company, along with the US.The fourth-quarter earnings report points out that the home care segment performance is excellent, with Unilever registering the growth of underlying sales at 4.7% with the backing of 4% growth in volume."India was a key contributor to this momentum, with home care delivering mid-single-digit volume growth, led by strong TOP STORIESperformance in liquids across fabric wash and household care, and reaching its highest ever market share," Fernandez said during Unilever's earnings call.The Indian subsidiary, Hindistan Unilever (HUL), posted underlying sales growth of 5% with the December quarter registering volume growth of 4%. India has a growing economic environment and business foundation, according to Fernandez, as an increasing number of companies are enhancing their brand equities and brand superiority scores. It is worth noting that Unilever is experiencing improved performance, especially in the rural zones and the traditional trade.In 2025, Unilever's India business recorded 4 underlying sales growth and 3 volume growth, which is a positive indication of better market conditions and performance in the market. HUL has been in the premium beauty, wellbeing, and personal care segments, and the company has a strong digital commerce presence, which will further boost its growth in India.With India contributing around 12-14% of Unilever's total sales, the market remains crucial for the company's global strategy. Japanese electronics major MinebeaMitsumi will in-vest 1,980 crore to set up a semiconductor and electronic components facility in Tiruvallur district. The upcoming plant will manufacture motors, sensors, power electron-ics, and precision components. The project will also fea-ture a dedicated research and development center, rein-forcing the state's growing footprint in the semiconductor supply chain and supporting India's broader chip ecosys-tem ambitions.In a bigger commitment, Aequs Group has signed an MoU to invest 4,000 crore in a vertically integrated aircraft engine and aerospace components manufacturing hub. The facility will come up at SIPCOT in Shoolagiri, positioning the region as a serious player in global aerospace manufacturing and engine component production.Together, the two projects are expected to create around 8,400 jobs, many of them in high-skilled engineering and technical roles. With these agreements, Tamil Nadu is doubling down on advanced manufacturing, aiming to attract global supply chains, increase industrial output, and strengthen India's presence in critical technology sectors. TOP STORIES
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