Tamil Nadu CM Vijay to travel to London on first official overseas visit; gold ring scheme launch postponed

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay is set to embark on his first official overseas visit since assuming office, travelling to London on September 10, 2026, to attract investments and hold discussions with entrepreneurs and industrialists. As a result of his week-long visit, the launch of the TVK government’s flagship scheme, Thaimaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam, has been postponed.

Sources said Mr. Vijay would leave from Chennai airport on the night of September 10 and arrive in London on September 11. During his stay in London, Mr. Vijay will meet entrepreneurs and industrialists and hold discussions with them regarding Tamil Nadu’s investment potential and highlight the State’s strengths as an investment destination.

A couple of important Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the Tamil Nadu government and multinational companies are also likely to be inked in the presence of Mr. Vijay. At the recently held Vettri Tamil Nadu Investors’ Conclave, MoUs were signed with 97 companies for investments worth ₹67,482 crore.

The Chief Minister is also set to visit motorsport facilities and a motorsport circuit in London. This comes against the backdrop of his recent announcement in the Assembly under Rule 110 that a motorsport city with modern facilities would be established in Tamil Nadu.

Meeting with Tamil diaspora

Mr. Vijay will also meet members of the Tamil diaspora in London and hold discussions with them. The Chief Minister will be accompanied by his Secretaries I and IV and senior officials of Guidance Tamil Nadu. He is expected to return to Chennai on September 17 morning.

Sources also said there was no change in Mr. Vijay’s London travel schedule amid reports that the Chief Minister’s itinerary could be altered in view of the proposed visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to Chennai and his meeting with Mr. Vijay.

Gold ring scheme launch postponed

As the Chief Minister will be out of Tamil Nadu for nearly a week, the launch of Thaimaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam, a welfare scheme under which a one-gram gold ring will be gifted by the State government to babies born in government hospitals, which was originally scheduled to be launched on September 15, the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai, has been postponed.

Sources also said the expansion of Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme to students in Classes VI to VIII in government and government-aided schools, which was scheduled to be launched on September 17, the birth anniversary of social reformer Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, is also likely to be postponed.