Mr. Chocko Valliappa, CEO of Vee Technologies & MD of The Sona Group, shares his views on Salem's transformation into a tech hub in CII Salem Connect 2025

CII Salem Connect 2025 (2nd Edition) was held at the Radisson Hotel showcasing Salem’s evolving role in supporting Tamil Nadu’s ambitious target of a $1 trillion economy. From a city that is known for poultry, textiles, and steel, Salem is gradually taking its place as a top tier tech hub/city.

The insightful conversations on establishing Salem as a central player in Tamil Nadu’s vision for a $1 trillion economy, as Mr. Chocko Valliappa, Chairman of CII Salem Connect 2025, CEO of Vee Technologies & MD of The Sona Group, engaged with Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan (PTR), Honourable Minister for Information Technology & Digital Services, Tamil Nadu.

Mr. Chocko Valliappa, Chairman of CII Salem Connect 2025, CEO of Vee Technologies & MD of The Sona Group, shared an in-depth perspective on Salem’s transformation during a conversation with The Federal. “Salem’s combination of educational institutions, industrial expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit makes it an ideal environment for technology and innovation,” he said. He elaborated on how Salem is evolving into a technology-driven ecosystem, bringing together industries traditionally known for poultry, textiles, steel, and sago.

“There’s substantial expansion taking place here,” Mr. Chocko Valliappa noted. “Salem has long been a leader in poultry and textiles, ranking highly in egg exports and as a major textile player. We also have over 150 higher education institutions, producing around 50,000 graduates annually, making Salem a net exporter of talent.”

Salem’s tech scene is growing rapidly, driven by an increasing number of start-ups. “Salem is emerging as a major start-up hub,” he shared. “With the right support and access to resources, entrepreneurs are now able to launch technology ventures with far less capital than before,” he added.

“Today, Salem is the third-largest contributing district in India, generating approximately 1.02 lakh crores, or around 4% of Tamil Nadu's economy. I believe this contribution will continue to grow as we attract more industries and entrepreneurs to the region,” Mr. Chocko Valliappa, MD of The Sona Group.

“Graduates from our institutions collectively earn over 500 crores annually, and their contributions to the economy are significant. We need more businesses to recognise Salem’s potential and invest here,” Mr. Chocko Valliappa, MD of The Sona Group, concluded.