Fadnavis aggressively pitches Maharashtra as investment destination

Seeks maximum investments in infotech, manufacturing and agro-processing industries sectors

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has begun aggressively pitching the state as the most preferred investment destination and wants it to regain its position as an economic powerhouse in the country.

After returning from his investment scouting visit from Germany, Fadnavis said that he sought maximum investments in infotech, manufacturing and agro-processing industries sectors to create thousands of jobs and wooing foreign companies to set up ventures in Maharashtra.

"A huge positive sentiment has built up with regard to foreign investments. Industries now want to keenly invest in India as they see their growth here. There were some apprehensions due to a legacy of the last ten years, but after direct interactions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, their apprehensions are fading away," Fadnavis told PTI.

"In Hannover (Germany), we have offered land to SQS (software testing company), which, if accepted, will create around 2,000 jobs. Apart from that Bosch has agreed to take over 25 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in Maharashtra where it will not only train people, but also employ all those trained," he said.

Fadnavis said that positive talks have been held with Continental Tyres which has currently no presence here and that the company has promised to look at Maharashtra as an investment destination.

"We also had a very good interaction with ABB Robotics (supplier of industrial robots, modular manufacturing systems and service). We have invited them to set up robotics industries in Maharashtra. Volkswagen is a company that has investments here, but we have requested them to increase their presence in the state," Fadnavis said.

He said that talks have also been held with automotive companies like Witte and Durr and that these companies have shown keen interest in Maharashtra.

"These companies are major automobile parts suppliers. We have requested them to start their production facilities in Maharashtra. For now, parts manufactured by them from elsewhere reach here. This has to change," Fadnavis said.