Keerthana Sampath explores shipbuilding cooperation on first overseas trip since taking office

Keerthana Sampath (center), the newly appointed industry minister of India's Tamil Nadu state, poses for a photo at the guesthouse of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' Ulsan shipyard during a visit Monday. [HD Hyundai Heavy Industries]
Keerthana Sampath (center), the newly appointed industry minister of India's Tamil Nadu state, poses for a photo at the guesthouse of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' Ulsan shipyard during a visit Monday. [HD Hyundai Heavy Industries]

Keerthana Sampath, the newly appointed industry minister of India's Tamil Nadu state, visited HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' Ulsan shipyard Monday for her first official overseas trip since taking office, touring ship construction facilities and production management systems and discussing potential areas of cooperation.

Tamil Nadu, a manufacturing hub in southern India with a diverse industrial base spanning automobiles, electronics and heavy industry, as well as developed port and logistics infrastructure, signed an MOU with HD Hyundai last December on building a new shipyard in the state.

The Tamil Nadu state government is currently preparing a package of tailored incentives to support the new shipyard project, including site development, port and supporting infrastructure construction, tax benefits and subsidies.

"Minister Keerthana's visit to Ulsan demonstrates the Tamil Nadu state government's firm commitment to developing the shipbuilding industry as a core strategic sector," an HD Hyundai official said.


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