What is ‘Guidance’, Tamil Nadu’s nodal agency for investments? | Explained

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister S. Joseph Vijay witnesses the exchange of an MoU after signed between the Tamil Nadu government’s nodal agency, 'Guidance', and the U.S.-based Starbucks Coffee Company at the Secretariat, in Chennai. File | Photo Credit: ANI The story so far: Guidance, the nodal agency of the Tamil Nadu government for investment promotion and single-window facilitation, is in the limelight for the wrong reasons. Former Chief Ministers M.K. Stalin and Edappadi K. Palaniswami have accused the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government of having “immobilised” the body.Guidance, earlier known as the Tamil Nadu Guidance and Export Promotion Bureau, was established as a non-profit registered society on July 15, 1992, with the objective of attracting investment proposals into Tamil Nadu. It is mandated to span the full spectrum of investment promotion activities, with a focus on generating leads, facilitating projects, and providing post-investment support. The body is expected to catch the emerging market trends and formulate new sectoral policies, strengthen industry-academia collaboration, and engage with trade bodies and multilateral agencies. It hopes to play a crucial role in making the State a $1.5 trillion economy by 2036, a goal of the present government. Published - November 03, 2026 02:18 pm IST