Two-day conference focused on ease of doing business, changing homebuyer preferences, finance, growth drivers, AI and robotics in construction
Chennai, 11th October 2026: The fifth edition of CREDAI Tamil Nadu’s STATECON 2026, commenced today in Chennai, brought together policymakers, developers, financial institutions, technology leaders and other industry stakeholders to deliberate on the key issues shaping the next phase of Tamil Nadu’s real estate sector.
The two-day conference was centred around the theme “Tamil Nadu 2036 – Building the Next Decade Towards a $1.5 Trillion Economy” and featured discussions on ease of doing business, changing homebuyer preferences, access to finance, the growth drivers of Tamil Nadu real estate, artificial intelligence and emerging construction technologies. SBI was the Title Partner and JLL the Knowledge Partner for STATECON 2026.
The inaugural session was attended by, Thiru A.M. Shahjahan, Hon’ble Minister for Minorities Welfare as Chief Guest, , in the presence of Mr. Vivekanand Choubey, Chief General Manager, SBI Chennai Circle, and Mr. G. Ram Reddy, CREDAI National – President Elect.
A JLL report was also released on the occasion by the Chief Guest, Guest of Honour and members of CREDAI on stage.
Thiru K. Phanindra Reddy, IAS, Chairperson, TNRERA; Thiru Rajesh Lakhoni, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Land Administration; Thiru R. Kirlosh Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development; and Thiru A. R. Rahul Nadh, IAS, Member Secretary, CMDA, participated in the panel discussion on “Ease of Doing Business in Tamil Nadu for the Real Estate Sector,” moderated by Mr. S. Sridharan, Past Chairman, CREDAI Tamil Nadu at the STATECON 2026
A significant highlight of STATECON 2026 was the induction of five new CREDAI Tamil Nadu city chapters — Nilgiris, Kodaikanal, Vellore, Thanjavur and Karur — further expanding the organisation’s presence across the State. The induction was held in the distinguished presence of Thiru S. Rajesh Kumar, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, and Mr. Suresh Krishn, Joint Secretary, CREDAI National.
Running parallel to the conference, FAIRBUILD 2026 served as a focused B2B platform connecting developers with manufacturers, suppliers, technology companies, product brands and service providers catering to the construction and real estate sectors. A dedicated FAIRBUILD expo walkthrough was also held on Day One.
Speaking on the larger objective of STATECON 2026, Mr. W.S. Habib, President, CREDAI Tamil Nadu, said, “Tamil Nadu has the economic base, talent, infrastructure and entrepreneurial strength to enter a much larger phase of growth over the coming decade. Real estate will have an important role in supporting that growth across our cities. STATECON is therefore not only about discussing the sector as it stands today, but about looking ahead at what Tamil Nadu will require in terms of policy, infrastructure, capital, technology and urban development as we move towards 2036.”
Commenting on the programme, Mr. Gugan Ilango, Convenor, STATECON & FAIRBUILD 2026, said, “We consciously structured STATECON around issues that developers are dealing with on the ground today while also looking at what will reshape the industry tomorrow. Ease of doing business, changing customer expectations, access to finance and growth beyond the traditional markets are immediate priorities. At the same time, AI, new construction technologies and robotics are beginning to change how the industry operates. Bringing these subjects together gives the industry an opportunity to look at the complete picture rather than at each issue in isolation.”
Mr. Srikumar Swaminathan, Secretary, CREDAI Tamil Nadu, said, “One of the strengths of STATECON is the range of perspectives it brings onto a common platform. The issues facing a developer today cut across Government approvals, finance, customer behaviour, technology, construction and regional market dynamics. By bringing policymakers, developers, financial institutions, technology companies and other industry participants together, the discussions over these two days provided an opportunity to exchange ideas, understand emerging trends and strengthen collaboration across the sector.”
Day One featured discussions across policy, governance, changing consumer behaviour, financing and the key growth drivers of the State’s real estate market. A Development Spotlight on ‘A New Framework for Growth – Simpler Rules. Faster Approvals. Greater Transparency.’ preceded the first session. The first session, ‘Ease of Doing Business in Tamil Nadu for Real Estate’, brought together senior government officials to discuss the development and regulatory environment for the sector. It was followed by a Transformation Dialogue on ‘Beyond the Metros – The New Geography of Tamil Nadu’s Growth’ and a leadership dialogue on ‘From Chennai to the World: Building a Real Estate Brand at Scale.’
The afternoon programme featured ‘New Homebuyer – What has Changed?’, which examined evolving customer expectations and changes in the housing market. ‘Financing the Future of Real Estate’ brought together leaders from the financial ecosystem to discuss capital and funding, while ‘Growth Drivers of Tamil Nadu Real Estate’ examined the economic, corporate and regional factors influencing demand and development across the State. An Impact Dialogue and a spotlight conversation were also held as part of the day’s programme.
Day Two placed a stronger emphasis on technology and the future of construction. ‘The AI Blueprint: Building the Future of Real Estate’ brought together industry practitioners to discuss the growing role of artificial intelligence and technology in the sector. The session on ‘Robotics in Construction: Building the Next Workforce’ examined automation and emerging construction technologies and their potential role in addressing workforce, productivity and project-delivery challenges.
The second day will feature a Thought Leadership Session, a Vision Dialogue and ‘State Outlook – Tamil Nadu: Shaping the Decade Ahead’, addressed by Thiru D. Shanmugam, M.L.A., Modakkurichi Constituency. The two-day conference concluded with the valedictory session in the presence of Thiru K.A. Sengottaiyan, Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management; Dr. K.G. Arunraj, Minister for Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare; Thiru B. Rajkumar, Minister for Housing and Urban Development; and Thiru M. Vijay Balaji, Minister for Handlooms, Textiles and Khadi.
Through STATECON and FAIRBUILD 2026, CREDAI Tamil Nadu brought together policy dialogue, industry knowledge, technology exposure and business engagement while creating a broader conversation around the role of real estate in Tamil Nadu’s growth towards 2036.
