One of the most distinctive aspects of Coimbatore is that the city is the human capital of the Western Ghats. We think of the Himalayas as the holiest, with the tallest peaks. It is equally important to know that the Nilgiris is amongst the oldest of mountain ranges in the country, and one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in the world. This is our greatest pride. We may not have minerals and petroleum, but our greatest capital is certainly that we are the human capital of the Western Ghats. This gives us a great identity. This gave us indigenous experience of what culture and heritage is. It gives us the survival instinct, learned from the indigenous people.

Even 2000 years ago, Coimbatore exported some of the finest products in the world, so working with the world is not new to us. Roman history is a way to find more about the history of the world. Very few places on the planet can say what we can about Coimbatore- virtually every Roman emperor’s coin have been found here in Coimbatore. This shows that not just was there just trade, but also robust consistent trade. Great hordes of roman coins tell us about trade capabilities again.

When it comes to the confluence of people- diversity is not new to us. Coimbatore has a strategic position, giving it a huge advantage, thanks in part to the Palghat Gap. It gives us great weather, roads, connecting us from Thanjavur and Kochi, to name a few. Naturally, the confluence of people happened. From Muziris, Rome and other places. We slowly became a national confluence, from the 4^th or 5^th generation of speakers talking in languages apart from Tamil.

Coimbatore businesses for three generations have worked with the world. Strategic partnerships are not new. Going global is not either.

Our super power is that we have emerged from limitations- we did not have access to sea ports, to abundant water and so on. In 1902, the British Gazette stated that Coimbatore was not fit for further development. The reason? No natural resources. What Coimbatore did was not to move, not to change course. It stayed put. The city brought water to it. With it came Pykara power. This led to industrialisation, to textiles, which led to engineering and so many things. Emergence from limitations is one of our biggest powers.

There are some key factors behind the reality.

1. Geographical positioning advantages – nature, weather, the trade routes are strengths.
2. Finite resources – they inspire us. We build because we do not have. This has given us the entrepreneurial instinct.
3. Enterprising spirit – because people came here and settled down, the region of Coimbatore developed.
4. Confluence of ethnicities – different professions, educational institutions and people who travel here for study and work, have motivated many people to think of Coimbatore as a second home.
5. Culture of excellence – we strive for the highest standards from our homes, dining tables, factories, and we want to learn more.

It is important to move on. We need to understand history. But history gives us an address of where we came from. It is important to know where we are going. Coimbatore Next helps do that.