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Mumbai: Maharashtra dominated the Indian delegation of six states, attracting maximum investment guarantees at the World Economic Forum, Davos. This time, the state secured investment agreements worth Rs 15.7 lakh crore, promising 15.95 lakh job opportunities. In total, 61 MoUs were signed, of which 54 are for investment and seven are strategic MoUs for bringing in knowledge.
Addressing an online press conference with the media in Mumbai Thursday, CM Devendra Fadnavis said Maharashtra is poised to become the data centre capital of the world. “Data is the new oil, and this sector will witness exponential growth,” he said.
The theme this time was AI, and the discussion was around the new world being created. “We live in a globalised world, and have to harness technology. We have already set up a centre of excellence in AI along with Google and are already using AI in governance, and will start AI in our ITIs. Besides, we are setting up an innovation city powered by AI near Navi Mumbai,” he said.
The state, he said, received investments in sectors ranging from infrastructure, green energy, hydrogen and chemicals, food and beverages, electronics, IT & ITES, steel and metals, among others. Breaking down the investments region-wise, Fadnavis said Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Pune, and western Maharashtra received Rs 6 lakh crore in investments, besides strategic investments through knowledge sharing in MMR. Vidarbha received Rs 5 lakh crore, North Maharashtra Rs 30,000 crore, and Marathwada Rs 20-25,000 crore, and will be positioned as a manufacturing hub.
Historically, Fadnavis said, India has a record of converting 35% of MoUs into actual investment while Maharashtra has been able to convert 65% into investments. “Nearly 95% of the MoUs signed when Eknath Shinde was the CM were converted into real action, and I am confident that this time we will be able to convert all MoUs into actual investment,” said Fadnavis.
On the opposition’s criticism that most MoUs were signed with Indian companies, Fadnavis said those who want to see negative will criticise since they could not do it and so are unhappy. “In all these MoUs, 58% is the FDI component. We are in a globalised world, and companies such as JSW and Tata are global companies, and these agreements are being signed with their global partners. This is the first time that such record investment has come,” he said. Industry minister Uday Samant said the dept will make efforts to put up all MoUs signed since 2015 and their status on MIDC website in a few days.
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