Chennai: Tamil Nadu is emerging as India's hub for aerospace and defence innovation, Chief Minister M K Stalin said on Tuesday.

Speaking after inaugurating the Conclave on Aerospace and Defence Sectors 2025, organised by the Industries Department here, Stalin said the State has attracted investments worth Rs 23,000 crore through the Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor.

“With these investments, advanced UAV systems, frontier aerospace research and strong integration into global supply chains, Tamil Nadu is taking its flight as the aerospace, space and defence innovation hub of India,” he said.

For the first time, the Industries Department has organised the AeroDefCon 2025 to boost investments and provide a platform for industries to explore opportunities in the aerospace and defence sectors.

“This is not just an exhibition. It is a platform to identify new industries, manufacturers and form collaborations with them,” the Chief Minister said.

He noted that Tamil Nadu has been making a mark across industries and is now a leader in manufacturing. “Do you know that Tamil Nadu accounts for nearly 40 per cent of India's total automobile exports?” he asked.

The Chief Minister added that nearly two-thirds of all electric vehicles produced in the country come from Tamil Nadu. He said the State ranks first among Indian states in electronics exports, valued at USD 14.6 billion in FY 2024-25, and is home to over 45,000 industries.

In a post on social media, Stalin shared images from the event, noting, “Inaugurated the AeroDefCon 2025, a global confluence of 300-plus enterprises, 1,000-plus delegates and 8,000 business-to-business meetings.”