CHENNAI: Minister for Industries TRB Rajaa on Friday said the State government is in talks with the Dubai-based LuLu Group International to set up its mall in Chennai.
Rajaa shared the information responding to issues raised by AIADMK member and Deputy Leader of the Opposition RB Udhayakumar, who questioned the conversion of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed by the Industries Department into actual investments, particularly those involving Dubai-based companies.
The Minister said that during the Chief Minister's overseas visits, 69 MoUs had been signed, of which 48 had reached an advanced stage of implementation. "The conversion rate of MoUs is about 75 per cent," he said.
Referring specifically to LuLu Group, Rajaa said that, following the MoU, the LuLu Mall in Coimbatore was operating successfully. "Discussions are now underway to establish a similar mall in Chennai," he added.
During the debate, Udhayakumar also raised questions about the free laptop scheme for college students, asking why the government had delayed it for 4.5 years and relaunched it now, when it was originally introduced during the AIADMK regime.
In response, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu said laptops were currently being distributed to final-year college students, and that from next year onwards, first and second-year students would also be covered. Public Works and Highways Minister EV Velu added that the laptops provided by the government were meant for lifetime use, not limited to college education alone.
Earlier, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition raised concerns over the rise in prices of essential commodities, including rice and cooking oil, alleging that the government had failed to take adequate steps to control inflation.
Responding to this, Velu said that price rises were often linked to increases in per capita income.
He said Tamil Nadu's per capita income had risen from Rs 2.06 lakh in 2021 to Rs 3.15 lakh in 2025, and added that despite economic growth,