The historic city of Madurai is set to become the epicenter of global Tamil business and professional networking as it prepares to host Sangam5, the 16th Global Summit of Tamil Entrepreneurs and Professionals. The four-day event will commence on January 8 and is anticipated to attract close to 2,000 delegates representing more than 50 nations worldwide.
A Historic Gathering for the Tamil Business Community
Organized by The Rise, a worldwide network of Tamil entrepreneurs, professionals, and enthusiasts, this edition is poised to be the largest in the summit's history. Jegath Gaspar Raj, the founder of The Rise, emphasized the significance of the event, stating that Sangam5 could be recorded as the most extensive and widely represented assembly of Tamil entrepreneurs and professionals ever.
The organization has undertaken special initiatives to engage Tamil business communities from major Indian cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Kolkata. The summit's expansion comes at a crucial time. With global trade dynamics shifting due to factors like US tariffs affecting sectors such as textiles, leather, agriculture, food products, engineering, and IT, the summit aims to open new avenues. Efforts have been made to mobilize buyers from Europe, Southeast Asia, the Gulf region, Australia, and Canada to broaden market opportunities for entrepreneurs from Tamil Nadu.
Cultural Launch and Strategic Business Sessions
The summit will open with a distinctive cultural flourish—a jallikattu event at the Alanganallur Dr Kalaignar jallikattu arena, moderated in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Jallikattu Peravai. The grand finale on January 11 will be held at the archaeologically significant site of Keeladi. The closing ceremony will feature delegates hoisting their national flags and participating in the traditional cooking of sweet pongal, symbolizing unity and prosperity.
Beyond cultural celebrations, Sangam5 is designed as a powerhouse of business strategy and collaboration. A key feature will be a series of focused mini-summits covering vital sectors including Information Technology, logistics, healthcare, engineering, human resources, tourism, export-import, and higher education. A major highlight is expected to be a dedicated start-up funding pitch fest led by the Global Tamil Angels Network (GTAN), offering a platform for emerging ventures to secure investment.
Launching a New Era of Tamil Economic Renaissance
Jegath Gaspar Raj framed the summit as the dawn of a new 70-year cycle of Tamil renaissance, backed by concrete projects. These ambitious long-term initiatives include the establishment of The Rise Global Trade Hub at Nilakottai Sipcot, the development of a tourism corridor in southern Tamil Nadu, and the creation of a global Tamil village and country club on the route to Courtallam.
The return of the summit to Madurai, where the first edition was held in 2018, marks a full circle, now on a vastly larger scale. Sangam5 stands as a testament to the growing influence and interconnectedness of the global Tamil diaspora in the business world, aiming to forge lasting economic partnerships and drive growth for Tamil Nadu on the international stage.
