HD Hyundai Advances ₹38,000 Crore Shipbuilding Project in Thoothukudi After Meeting with Tamil Nadu CM Vijay

South Korea-based HD Hyundai, one of the world’s largest shipbuilding companies, has taken another step forward in its proposed ₹38,000 crore shipbuilding project in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. A high-level business delegation led by Young Hoon Kwon, Director of the Global Business Division of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), recently met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to review the implementation status of the ambitious project.

During the meeting held in Chennai, discussions focused on accelerating the development of the proposed shipbuilding complex, which is expected to become one of India’s largest maritime infrastructure investments. The Tamil Nadu government reiterated its commitment to supporting the project and assured the company of full administrative assistance to ensure timely execution.

According to the State Industries Department, Chief Minister Vijay emphasized the importance of the project for Tamil Nadu’s industrial growth and employment generation. He assured HD Hyundai that all necessary measures would be undertaken to facilitate faster implementation and smooth coordination among government agencies.

The proposed shipbuilding facility is planned for Thoothukudi, a strategically important port city on India’s southeastern coast. The project is expected to attract investments of approximately ₹38,000 crore and create around 15,000 direct employment opportunities, along with thousands of indirect jobs across ancillary industries, logistics, engineering, and supply chain services.

HD Hyundai had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu government in 2025 to establish the shipbuilding complex. The project is being facilitated through National Shipbuilding & Heavy Industries Park Tamil Nadu Limited, a special purpose vehicle formed jointly by SIPCOT and the V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority.

Industry experts believe the project could significantly strengthen India’s shipbuilding capabilities, reduce dependence on overseas shipyards, and position Thoothukudi as a major maritime manufacturing hub. The development is also expected to support the government’s vision of expanding domestic shipbuilding and promoting exports from India’s coastal regions.

With continued support from the Tamil Nadu government and HD Hyundai’s global expertise, the Thoothukudi shipbuilding project is poised to become a transformative investment for the state’s industrial and maritime sectors.