Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0

The Maharastra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), conscientiously pursues its vision and mission of “Prosperity for all via Industrialization”, a sentiment prominently displayed during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic. Under the Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0 program, MIDC mobilized investments worth INR 1.89 lac crore that envisages to generate 3.3 lac high quality jobs across the state ensuring equitable regional development. A holistic approach involving state-of-theart infrastructure, a large pool of skilled manpower, presence of prominent educational and research institutions, smart governance, pro-investor initiatives and excellent living conditions give Maharashtra an edge in attracting global investments

To give momentum to balanced industrial development in Maharashtra, the state government by a special act in 1962 established MIDC, the special planning body, which through a vast network of local offices, has built 289 industrial parks over 2.25 lakh acres of land across the state. The Corporation by ensuring availability of encumbrance free land to entrepreneurs and investors from across the world has succeeded in attracting and fostering strong business relationships with global business players. This strategic move has catapulted Maharashtra in the top rank of the most industrialized state in the country with the highest contribution to India’s GDP (15 percent).

A single point of contact between investors/entrepreneurs and the government, MIDC hand holds them across the entire investment lifecycle from outreach to after care, which includes providing power, water and a lot more to businesses. Today, MIDC is developing smart industrial cities, plug and play infrastructure and has gone digital, drastically reducing the turnaround time for an industrialist to establish and run their business. Apart from being the largest Industrial Land Bank in the country, a special cell of MIDC also helps investors to navigate regulatory challenges in getting environmental clearances.

Serving as the Government of Maharashtra’s nodal Investment Promotion Agency, MIDC is not only the country’s largest Industrial development authority but one of South East Asia’s most competent Investment Promotion Authority. MIDC’s dynamic approach has triggered a multiplier effect to the economy enabling the state government to further achieve its socio-economic and infrastructure development goals, which includes generating employment and increasing purchasing power of the populace.

In a bid to bring suppliers, producers, sellers and buyers on to a common interactive platform, MIDC is developing specialized markets in all the districts of the state. India’s first smart industrial city for Food Processing, Auto & Components, ESDM and Textile, AURIC Aurangabad has been developed as a part of Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor spread over 10,000 acres. An electronic and engineering smart city is coming up in Talegaon along with Hi-Tech city spread across 15,000 acres in Dighi Mangaon. The state is also in the process of finalizing engineering hubs at Khalapur in Raigad and Shahpur in Thane. A dedicated Data Center Park and Integrated Logistics Park has been envisioned in Taloja, which is already attracting investors. With the new IT policy under approval, many more IT parks and Data Center investments are expected to come up in the state. Nashik- Malegaon-Ahmednagar region is fast developing over 5000 acres with a Japanese Industrial Township in SUPA, Ahmednagar, in addition to Nashik becoming the hub for Aerospace and Defence sector. An area of 4000 acres in Nagpur- Amravati region is being developed as an epicenter of integrated textile value chain manufacturing. Maharashtra is implementing the Government of India initiatives such as the Electronic Manufacturing Cluster in co-ordination with STPI, besides 5 major Multi-Modal Logistic Parks in co-ordination with NHAI. A favorable policy environment coupled with infrastructure development initiated by the political and administrative leadership have helped the state in achieving this unprecedented growth.

Cluster development led by one or more major anchor units supported by MSMEs, is a key to the over-all growth of any sector. It is due to phenomenal industrialization that Maharashtra has one of the highest per capita incomes in the country. Presence of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has led to the development of defence cluster in and around Nashik. Similarly, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) directive to all the Ordinance Factories for out-sourcing 25% of their production to the SMEs/MSMEs would give a huge impetus to them. Automobile and electronics manufacturing hubs in Pune are also such examples where the small component manufacturers have been able to increase their businesses multifold due to presence of large companies. Some of the biggest names in the Automobile industry, both domestic and international, such as Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Mercedez Benz, Volkswagen to name a few have set up shop in Maharashtra. It has given impetus to create the strongest OEM base of autocomponents manufacturers in the country. Adding to its strength, the new EV policy of the state has already attracted multiple investments in the EV sector and last year Maharashtra registered the highest number of EV sales.

Furthermore, the state has nurtured a dynamic innovation ecosystem with the help of progressive policies, vast skilled talent pool, competitive infrastructure and fast-growing R&D footprint. A well-established IT industry has helped Maharashtra mature as a supply and demand market for technology. Leaders like IBM, Microsoft, Amazon, HP, Cisco and many more have chosen Maharashtra as their ‘home’. Currently, there are 170 IT & ITeS parks operational and with the new IT Policy underway, there are many more such parks expected. The state accounts for more than 20% of India’s software exports, with over 1,200 software units established across the state. Mumbai and Pune are the major IT & ITeS centers in the state followed by Nagpur and Aurangabad. Emerging technologies along with the presence of diverse value chain and socio-economic diversity enables the state to have a range of world-class engineering, research and design hotspots.

Maharashtra government’s strong focus on political stability, swift policy development, law & order and stakeholder consultations, besides adapting new technologies has kept the state ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving global environment. This makes Maharashtra amongst the most trusted and profitable states to invest in, and a prosperous global business destination worth exploring!

(A marketing initiative by Open Avenues)

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