Is Coimbatore ready to emerge as India's next business powerhouse?

At the India Today Conclave South 2025, business leaders debated whether Coimbatore could rise as India’s next big business hub. Already among the fastest-growing tier-2 cities, it is increasingly viewed as a strong rival to metros like Chennai.

Mithun Ramdas, President of the Southern India Engineering Manufacturers Association, pointed to Coimbatore’s advantages. “We are well placed geographically, face minimal natural calamities, and are well connected to Tamil Nadu. It is the state’s second-biggest hub after Chennai,” he said. However, he cautioned that the impact of US tariffs may be felt in the coming months.

N. Thirukkumaran, General Secretary of the Tiruppur Exporters Association, stressed how Tiruppur and Coimbatore complement each other. While Tiruppur drives a Rs 75,000 crore textile industry, Coimbatore houses diverse sectors. “We have endured Covid and the Ukraine war. Tariffs affect us, but we are resilient,” he said, adding that Tiruppur avoids job losses by negotiating discounts instead of cutting workers.

Jose Charles Martin, Managing Director of Martin Group, spoke of innovation-led growth, urging the creation of satellite cities with housing, schools, hospitals, and industries to ease commutes. He also pushed for greater investment in railways as a cost-effective long-term solution.