Maharashtra govt launches 'Invest Maharashtra' platform with 67 MoUs worth Rs 8.57 lakh crore proposed

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday launched the Invest Maharashtra platform with the state government signing 67 memoranda of understanding MoUs involving proposed investments of Rs 857 lakh crore and potential employment for 291 lakh peopleThe platform is intended to serve as a single point for investment promotion and facilitation with the state government saying it will coordinate requirements related to land power infrastructure approvals and skilled manpower for proposed projectsGovernment promises coordinated support for investorsFadnavis said the government would work in an integrated manner once an investor selected a project with different departments expected to coordinate on issues that could affect implementationThe platform has been launched with the identity Made for Business Fadnavis said the approach was aimed at recognising the importance of investors time and ensuring that government departments remained involved from the project stage through expansionHe also urged large companies to ensure that the benefits of new investments extend to small and medium enterprises local suppliers young people and farmersInvestment proposals have been received from Chandrapur Wardha Nagpur Gondia Nashik Jalgaon Dhule Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Jalna Pune Ahilyanagar Ratnagiri Palghar and Mumbai Metropolitan Region The aim is to ensure balanced development across Maharashtra he saidThe government said the investment proposals cover several parts of the state rather than being concentrated only in Mumbai and Pune Subsequent reports on the launch also identified sectors including semiconductors data centres renewable energy aerospace and defence healthcare and advanced manufacturing among those covered by the proposed investmentsMoUs span technology energy and manufacturingAccording to the figures released by the state government the 67 MoUs involve proposed investments of Rs 857452 crore and are expected to generate 291109 employment opportunitiesData centres information technology and semiconductors account for the largest combined share of the proposed investment at Rs 415490 crore according to the releaseThe energy and cleantech segment including renewable energy battery energy and compressed biogas accounts for proposed investments of Rs 102519 crore The aerospace and defence sectors account for Rs 27930 crore while metals and mining proposals total Rs 75000 croreThe proposals also include Rs 12651 crore in electronics Rs 6500 crore in healthcare and Rs 18751 crore in infrastructure logistics and construction materials Steel production accounts for a further Rs 7000 croreChemicals agriculture services and global capability centres account for Rs 8801 crore while Rs 182810 crore has been classified under other sectorsThe employment figures are projections linked to the proposed investments and do not represent jobs already created Similarly MoUs indicate investment intentions and are not equivalent to completed investmentsState targets wider regional developmentFadnavis said Maharashtra was targeting a USD 1 trillion economy by 2030 linking the goal to industrial expansion higher incomes and development across districtsHe referred to proposed initiatives including Education City Medicity and AI and Innovation City which are intended to bring together industry education research healthcare and technologyFadnavis also said the state was seeking to attract investments to districts outside the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Pune He said proposals had been received from districts including Chandrapur Wardha Nagpur Gondia Nashik Jalgaon Dhule Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Jalna Ahilyanagar Ratnagiri and PalgharMMRDA completes landuse exercise for Mumbai3 and Mumbai4The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority MMRDA has completed the Existing Land Use ELU process covering about 2100 sq km for the proposed development of Mumbai3 and Mumbai4 Fadnavis saidHe described the exercise as the fastest ELU process of its kind completed in India and said it would provide a planning base for the proposed urban developmentThe state has separately linked the proposed Mumbai3 and Mumbai4 developments with its wider plans for expanding economic activity and creating new urban and industrial centres Reports following the launch said an MoU was also signed for a proposed 5700acre Knowledge City in the Mumbai3 regionGovernment highlights singlewindow mechanismIndustry Minister Uday Samant said the investment commitments would contribute to the states industrial development and said the industry department would provide support to investors through the Maitri singlewindow mechanismChief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said Invest Maharashtra would provide investors with guidance and facilitation while dealing with different government departmentsIndustry Principal Secretary P Anbalagan said the platform would bring investment promotion facilitation global partnerships research analysis and investor relationship management togetherThe government said the initiative would also focus on sectors such as global capability centres gems and jewellery animation visual effects comics and gaming bamboo bioplastics electronics and semiconductors alongside efforts to encourage investment in emerging districtsFadnavis asks industry to support water conservationFadnavis also asked companies to contribute to water conservation particularly in areas facing difficulties because of low rainfallHe urged industries to contribute to the Chief Ministers Relief Fund and use their technical and engineering expertise for projects involving water conservation efficient irrigation and wastewater reuseWith inputs from PTI