CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay is set to leave for the UK on Sept 11 for a four-day visit, during which he is expected to participate in the signing of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with prospective investors.According to sources, the state govt has made elaborate arrangements for Vijay’s first overseas trip since taking charge as chief minister in May. “The govt has just received clearance from the Union ministry of external affairs. Details of the MoU signings with investors will be known shortly,” said a source familiar with the developments. The govt has kept the visit under wraps as the budget session of the legislative assembly is currently underway and is scheduled to conclude on Sept 8.Vijay will be accompanied by officials from Guidance Tamil Nadu, the investment promotion wing of the industries, investment promotion and commerce department, as well as his secretaries. An official announcement is expected to be made ahead of the visit.Former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami was the first to undertake an overseas tour in 2019 to attract foreign direct investment. He travelled to the UK, the US and the UAE, where he met industry leaders. During the previous DMK regime, chief minister M K Stalin also undertook several overseas visits, including to Singapore, Japan, Spain, the US, Germany and the UK. He signed MoUs with investors during these visits.TVK govt has secured investment commitments worth Rs 1.02 lakh crore through 104 MoUs signed since May. At the Vettri Tamil Nadu Investment Conclave 2026, 97 companies signed MoUs involving investments worth Rs 67,452 crore, taking the govt total investment commitments in its first 100 days past the Rs 1 lakh crore mark.
