Fadnavis invites UK investors at Maharashtra-UK partnership launch in Mumbai

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said Maharashtra has an excellent ecosystem for solid investment that brings together skills, capital and technology. According to him, Maharashtra is ahead of all states in building an ecosystem for investment by industries in every sector. On this basis, he appealed to institutions and industrialists from the United Kingdom to invest in Maharashtra.

Fadnavis was speaking at the Maharashtra-UK partnership launch event at the Taj Palace hotel in Mumbai. Protocol Minister Jaykumar Rawal, Industries Department Principal Secretary P. Anbalagan, Chief Protocol Officer Rajesh Gawande and the Chief Minister's investment adviser Kaustubh Dhavse were present. Jonathan Reynolds, UK Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, was also present. After talks between the two sides with the high-level UK delegation, MoUs between Maharashtra and the UK to expand cooperation in key sectors were exchanged.

The Chief Minister said all concerned agencies would be coordinated with immediately through the "Invest Maharashtra" platform to move investors' projects forward quickly. He said the visit of the UK secretary, mayors and officials is not merely a formal meeting. It is an effort to turn the ambitions of the two countries into real business and agreements.

According to Fadnavis, Mumbai links international finance, trade and entrepreneurship directly with world markets. Pune has become a major centre for engineering, automobiles, manufacturing and IT. He said Maharashtra's strengths are its skilled manpower across the state, strong industrial clusters and a network of experienced partners serving customers around the world.

The new National Education Policy has allowed foreign universities to open campuses in Maharashtra. The Chief Minister said global universities such as the University of Bristol, the University of York and the University of Aberdeen are coming to Maharashtra. World-class research, institutions and talent will come together in the Edu City, Medi City and AI Innovation City being built in the state.

He said Maharashtra has great scope for clean energy projects such as reducing industrial carbon emissions, energy efficiency, water management, transport and recycling of resources. The Chief Minister assured that if global companies want to open their "global capability centres" and technology research centres in Maharashtra, the state government will give full support. He said the partnership could give the state's local producers, food processing industry, technology companies and small entrepreneurs new markets and customers in Britain. He also expressed confidence that Maharashtra-UK ties will not remain limited to agreements, and will grow stronger by creating real industry, business and jobs.

Secretary of State Jonathan Reynolds said Maharashtra is the most natural and right place for UK companies that want to enter the Indian market. He said the state was chosen for its clear economic strength, political stability and leadership. According to him, the state's economy is bigger than that of Europe's Norway. Reynolds said he had not come to Maharashtra merely to sign a piece of paper and wanted real results and success. He expressed hope that people on both sides would carry the work forward together and speed up the progress of both countries.

Also present at the event were Dame Angela Eagle, Scotland's Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Secretary of State Douglas Alexander; Sophie Brice, Director for the EU and International Trade; Harshabir Sangha, UK Deputy Trade Commissioner for South Asia; and Harjinder Kang, UK Trade Commissioner for South Asia and Deputy High Commissioner for Western India. Mayors and others also attended.