With businesses increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI), the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore, plans to organise awareness events and sessions on AI, especially for Micro, Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (MSMEs).

The larger industries have consultants. The MSMEs need support to understand the applications of AI and how they can leverage it. The upcoming businesses in different verticals want the Chamber to have AI as one of its focus areas, said Rajesh B. Lund, president of the Chamber.

At the annual general meeting of the Chamber held in Coimbatore on Monday, a set of resolutions urged the governments to strengthen broadband infrastructure in rural and remote areas, regulate AI for business security, explore the possibility of promoting AI research and commercialisation in Coimbatore, support self-regulatory initiatives for responsible Al before a legal framework is established, and extend financial support and incentivise AI research, development, and innovation, modelling these initiatives on successful practices from other States and countries.

The Chamber has also sought immediate construction of an interim arrival terminal and a separate international enclosure. It was decided at the annual meeting to take up with the Central and State governments to take steps for widening of the existing runway and expand the Coimbatore International Airport, designate the airport as a hub and spoke airport, establish additional Customs counters, and expand the arrival and departure terminals and parking bays.

The Coimbatore Airport should be listed as a point of call airport in the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with ASEAN countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) to provide access for both international and Indian carriers. It should be reinstated as a point of call in the BASA with the UAE to facilitate direct flights and from Coimbatore and Dubai, the Chamber said.

Mr. Lund was re-elected president of the Chamber for 2025-26.