Chennai, Nov 12 : The Tamil Nadu BJP has questioned the state government’s claims about the proposed Rs 1,370 crore investment plans by South Korean companies Hwashin and Seoyon. The party has asked Industries Minister S Keerthana to present the actual details, arguing that the investments are expansions of existing facilities rather than new industrial projects.
BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy said the government should not present routine factory expansions as a major industrial achievement. He alleged that the proposed investments were being highlighted to counter concerns over new manufacturing projects going to Andhra Pradesh.
According to Thirupathy, Hwashin and Seoyon already operate manufacturing facilities in Tamil Nadu. Their latest investment proposals involve increasing production capacity, modernising existing plants, research and development, localisation and entering new business areas.
He said such expansions are a normal part of business operations and should not be compared with the establishment of new manufacturing facilities.
Andhra Pradesh Gets Rs 1,614 Crore Investment Proposals
Thirupathy pointed out that Hwashin, Seoyon and Iwamet signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the Andhra Pradesh government in early November 2026. The companies proposed investments worth approximately Rs 1,614 crore to establish new manufacturing facilities in Anantapur district.
These projects are expected to generate around 1,418 jobs, according to the BJP spokesperson.
He also noted that on November 11, 2026, Hwashin and Seoyon submitted Letters of Intent (LoIs) to the Tamil Nadu government, proposing investments of Rs 1,370 crore over the next five years to expand their existing facilities.
However, he claimed that the Tamil Nadu investment announcement did not include specific employment figures.
BJP Says New Factories and Existing Plant Expansions Are Different
The BJP argued that establishing new factories creates fresh manufacturing capacity and employment opportunities in a new location. In contrast, expanding existing facilities involves improving or increasing the capacity of plants that are already operational.
Thirupathy said that although factory expansions also involve significant investments and may generate additional jobs, they should not be treated as equivalent to attracting new manufacturing projects.
He further alleged that the Tamil Nadu government was taking credit for routine industrial expansions to create the impression that the state had not lost investment opportunities to Andhra Pradesh.
BJP Targets Industries Minister S Keerthana
Criticising Industries Minister S Keerthana, Thirupathy alleged that the government was trying to cover up its failure to attract new investments.
He urged the minister to focus on bringing fresh industrial projects to Tamil Nadu instead of highlighting existing companies’ expansion plans.
The BJP spokesperson also warned that the state could lose more investment opportunities in the future if the government failed to improve its industrial investment strategy.
Tamil Nadu Government Welcomes Rs 1,370 Crore Investment
Earlier, Industries Minister S Keerthana announced on X that Hwashin and Seoyon had reaffirmed their confidence in Tamil Nadu through fresh investment proposals worth Rs 1,370 crore over the next five years.
She said the state government, under Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, was committed to creating a business-friendly environment that supports industrial growth, innovation and employment generation.
Keerthana also said Tamil Nadu welcomed competition and would continue its efforts to attract investments.
The BJP’s criticism has brought the industrial investment competition between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh into focus, particularly over the distinction between attracting new manufacturing units and expanding existing industrial facilities.
