Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman here today virtually inaugurated the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) Regional Office (South) in Chennai in the august presence of Union Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs Shri Anurag Singh Thakur.

Shri Rajesh Verma, Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Shri Ashok Kumar Gupta, Chairperson CCI, Dr Sangeeta Verma and Shri BS Bishnoi, Members CCI, Shri S. Ghosh Dastidar, Secretary, CCI and officers of CCI attended this virtual inauguration ceremony.

Shri Ashok Kumar Gupta, chairperson, CCI, welcomed Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman and expressed his gratitude for inaugurating the Chennai Office of CCI. He emphasised that the Regional Office in Chennai is a step towards augmenting CCI’s regional presence and fulfil its duties as a federal regulator by engaging closely with States being important stakeholders in fostering greater competition in the economy.

The Chennai Office of CCI will act as an office to facilitate enforcement, investigation, advocacy function in coordination with Delhi office. This regional office will cater to the requirements of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and the Union Territories Puducherry and Lakshadweep.

Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman expressed satisfaction in the efforts of CCI and stressed the need to be a facilitator in the efforts of economic growth and development. Secretary CCI delivered the vote of thanks, expressing special gratitude to the Finance Minister, Minister of State and Secretary MCA.

Regional competition enforcement expanded as CCI opens south office to strengthen investigation, enforcement, and advocacy across southern jurisdictions. The Chennai Regional Office expands the Competition Commission of India's regional presence to engage closely with States and Union Territories in southern India and, in coordination with the Delhi office, to facilitate enforcement, investigation and advocacy functions including inquiries, investigatory coordination, and advocacy outreach within its territorial remit.