JAMSHEDPUR: Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran, on Tuesday, said that the ongoing conflict in West Asia will have some impact on the supply chain and the group companies have worked out alternative measures to mitigate the impact on their businesses.“I presume business will be affected for some days and months but that will recover as the situation stabilises,” Chandrasekaran said.While Tata Steel purchases limestone from West Asia, the company has sufficient inventory for risk mitigation and is also working on alternative sources to meet its requirements, he said.The chairman said that for the Tata group, the safety of its employees working in the war-torn zone is top priority. “Air India flights are flying over the airspace there. Several service companies and hotels are operating there. Safety of all employees is the first priority. For the last three days, group companies are working on that end.”

Chandrasekaran along with Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata, Tata Steel CEO & MD TV Narendran and other senior executives, were in the city to pay tribute to Tata Steel founder Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata on his birth anniversary.“The geopolitical situation is unpredictable. Last year was also a tough year. I think things will settle down soon, and I hope supply chain would not be a problem. As uncertainty prevails, we have planned to mitigate risks, not only for the Tata Group but also for the country,” he said.Chandrasekaran also said that group companies are in expansion mode and are continuously investing in technology tools to improve future businesses. He added that Tata Motors is coming up with hydrogen engines, Tata Steel is investing heavily in technologies to reduce carbon footprint and Tata Power is also doing so.He said that AI will bring new opportunities to TCS hence necessary skill upgradation is being imparted to the employees. The chairman said that the coming years will see new manufacturing jobs coming up in substantial numbers with the investment and expansion of Tata Steel.