Chief Minister MK Stalin signing the MoU on Monday 16 February 2026.
The Tamil Nadu government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Aequs Group to invest ₹4,000 crore to set up a 250-acre aerospace and defense cluster at SIPCOT Shoolagiri in Krishnagiri district. It has also signed an MoU with NMB-Minebea India Private Limited for an investment of ₹1,980 crore in Tiruvallur district.
Both the MoUs were signed on Monday in the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin at the Secretariat campus in Chennai. Industries Minister TRB Rajaa said on social media that the Aequs project will be India’s first fully vertically integrated aero engine manufacturing project.
It would create 7,000 jobs. This will create a brand new 250-acre aerospace and defense cluster at SIPCOT Shoolagiri in Krishnagiri district, designed to anchor India’s aero engine and precision aerospace manufacturing ecosystem. “The project will include an Aerospace and Defense Park with integrated manufacturing facilities for aircraft engine and transmission components. It will house a shared industrial infrastructure to create a seamless manufacturing and export platform,” said Mr. Rajaa.
Regarding the investments of NMB-Minebea India Private Limited, the Minister said that Japanese companies continue to strengthen their faith in Tamil Nadu. Minebea Mitsumi was a major global manufacturer of precision mechanical and electronic components with operations in 28 countries, supplying critical components to the automotive, industrial and electronics sectors worldwide, he said.
“This investment strengthens our precision engineering and electronics ecosystem and deepens our integration into global supply chains. Tamil Nadu continues to be the preferred destination for advanced electronics manufacturing,” said Mr. Rajaa.
In another event at the Secretariat, Mr. Stalin virtually inaugurated 16 Uzhavar Angadis based in Chennai and peripheral areas to facilitate market opportunities for farmers and ensure availability of quality food to consumers.
The CM also floated contracts for entrepreneurs to set up 54 value addition units for agricultural products. He also flagged the tractors, rotavators and other equipment procured by the farm machinery department for hire to farmers at nominal charges.
The CM also virtually inaugurated the new buildings constructed for the Departments of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Health and Family, Higher Education, Micro Enterprises, Small and Medium Enterprises, Social Welfare and Women Empowerment, Care of Persons with Different Disabilities at a total cost of Rs. 1,210 million. He also unveiled the foundation stone for the construction of new buildings for the higher education department at a cost of Rs. 555 million crowns.
In another event, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday presented the Kalaignar Ninaiva Kalaithurai Vithagar Award to actor MN Raja and filmmaker SP Muthuraman for 2024 and 2025 respectively.
Published – 16 Feb 2026 23:59 IST