Dr. Palani G Periasamy, Chairman, PGP group turns 80

6.1.2019

Dr. Palani G. Periasamy, eminent Economist, Successful NRI industrialist.

V. Balasubramanian

Dr. Palani G Periasamy, my long time good Industrialist friend celebrated his 80th Birth Day on January 5, 2019. He invited me for the special function organised in his five star hotel, Hotel Le Royal Meridien, Chennai.

I took my time off to join the celebration and conveyed my best wishes to him on achieving the big milestone in his life and leading many more years of healthy life.

I am with Dr. Palani Periasamy in 2005 during an event organised by Economic Times in Hotel Le Royal Meridien, Chennai

I am with Dr.Periasamy on 5.1.2019 during the special function held in the hotel for celebrating his 80th Birth Day.

 PGP Group Chairman,  Dr. Palani G Periasamy is completing 80 years on  12^th January 2019 and the  milestone in his life was celebrated  at a special function on Saturday, the 5^th January 2019 at Hotel Le Royal Meridien, Chennai.

A ‘Coffee Table Book / Souvenir’ containing the photographs, documents and memories of his eventful life of eight decades was released on the occasion.

Experts from different fields and his long time friends spoke on the occasion and praised his coming up in his life in a hard way, hailing from  a small village in Namakkal district and his  humility.

After his post graduation in Economics, he visited USA and pursued his teaching career. Later, he promoted his business ventures and invested greenfield projects in mid- eighties.

Behind his big success in business is his wife, Mrs. Visalakshmi Periasamy, very soft spoken and humble woman.

During my 23 years of working in Economic Times, Chennai as a Senior Business Journalist, I was fortunate to have known  Chairman and interviewed him  and written a number of articles on the glorious growth journey of PGP Group, covering its businesses like sugar ( Dharani Sugars), finance, hospitality\tourism, real esate apart from its rich  contribution in the field of  higher education and for  community development.

As a learned economist and a NRI leading industrialist, Dr. Periasamy used to articulate very well his views  on the State of Economy,  business\expansion plans of group companies, means of financing and the important role of NRIs in nation building. He has ably represented the cause of sugar industry and hospitality\tourism sector before Tamil Nadu Government and Official agencies.

Dr. Periaswamy is known for his warmth and friendly approach to media persons and expressing his free and frank opinion on matters of national interest. He is one of the very few successful NRI industrialists, who has invested in greenfield projects in Tamil Nadu and has been integral  part of  India growth story over the last three decades.

Along with his NRI friends, he ventured to promote his first business- Dharani Sugars and Chemicals in the Eighties when the Central Government and MGR Govt in TN encouraged the setting up of more mills in the private sector. 

Since then the group has expanded its business interests with fresh investments and creating employment opportunity for a large number of people.

One remarkable  incident I would like to record here is  that in In early 2000 , he worked hard through day and night for commissioning his dream project- the five star hotel at Guindy in Chennai. When the hotel was ready for inauguration, the Global hotel chain with which his Appu Hotels had tied up for management of the hotel, called off the tie up.

Dr.Periasamy and his team swung into action to sign up with another global chain,  Le Meridien and it had  also for the first time extended its luxury brand, Royal for the Chennai hotel , which over the years has become a big pride of Chennai. Later, he launched the second hotel project near Coimbatore with Le Meridien.

I always fondly recall and cherish my wonderful days in The Economic Times and the lasting friendship I have with good industrialist friends like PGP.

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