Mumbai, Oct 13 Maharashtra has a strong ecosystem for investment that combines skills, capital and technology, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday as he invited British institutions and businesses to invest in the state.
Speaking at the Maharashtra-UK Partnership Launch Programme at the Taj Palace Hotel here, Fadnavis said Maharashtra was at the forefront of creating an ecosystem to attract investment across sectors.
He said the state government would coordinate with all concerned agencies through the ‘Invest Maharashtra’ platform to expedite investors’ projects.
The visit of UK secretaries, mayors and officials was not merely a formal engagement but an effort to translate the ambitions of the two sides into actual business opportunities and agreements, he said.
Following bilateral discussions with a high-level UK delegation, memorandums of understanding were exchanged between Maharashtra and the UK to enhance cooperation in several key sectors.
Fadnavis said Mumbai connected international finance, trade and entrepreneurship directly with global markets, while Pune had emerged as a major centre for engineering, automobiles, manufacturing and information technology.
The state’s skilled workforce, strong industrial clusters and network of experienced partners serving global customers were among its key strengths, he said.
The new National Education Policy (NEP) has enabled foreign universities to establish campuses in Maharashtra. Universities, such as the University of Bristol, the University of York and the University of Aberdeen, were coming to the state, he said.
The proposed EduCity, MediCity and AI Innovation City would bring together world-class research, institutions and talent, the CM added.
Maharashtra also offered significant opportunities for clean energy projects aimed at reducing industrial carbon emissions, improving energy efficiency, water management, transport and resource recycling, he said.
The state government would extend full support to global companies seeking to establish global capability centres and technology research centres in Maharashtra, Fadnavis said.
The partnership would provide local manufacturers, food processing industries, technology companies and small entrepreneurs in Maharashtra opportunities to access new markets and customers in the UK, he said.
Expressing confidence that bilateral ties would extend beyond agreements to translate into actual business activity and job creation, Fadnavis said the partnership would strengthen relations between Maharashtra and Britain.
UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds said Maharashtra was the most natural and suitable destination for British companies seeking to enter the Indian market.
The choice of Maharashtra was driven by its economic strength, political stability and leadership, he said, adding that the state’s economy was larger than that of Norway in Europe.
“We have come to Maharashtra not just to sign a piece of paper. We want tangible results and success,” Reynolds said, calling for people on both sides to work together to advance the partnership and accelerate the progress of both countries.
(PTI News)
