America
Make in Maharashtra, Fadnavis tells US businesses
New York, June 30
Joining a stream of
investment-seeking Indian leaders to the US, Maharashtra Chief Minister
Devendra Fadnavis told business leaders here that when they Make it in
India it should be in his state and pitched its competitive edge.
Speaking
with American industry executives at a meeting of the US-India Business
Council (USBC) here on Monday, Fadnavis said: "The government has taken
a variety of measures to promote ease of doing business in the state
and we want to be viewed as a top destination for both domestic as well
as international investments."
He received an endorsement from
the USIBC president Mukesh Aghi, who said, "The Council's member
companies have been encouraged by the ease of doing business in
Maharashtra."
"Our government", Fadnavis said, "is committed to
providing a boost to both 'Make in India' and 'Make in Maharashtra'
campaigns, provide business to both medium and small enterprises and
create much-needed jobs."
He identified Delhi-Mumbai Industrial
corridor and Smart Cities among the critical projects that the state
was promoting for joint ventures. He also invited investments in
manufacturing, agriculture, aviation, engineering and information
technology.
Fadnavis began his investment safari just after Union
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley wound up last week a ten-day tour of the
US meeting with US business and financial leaders to promote India as an
investment destination. They are trying to take advantage of the
momentum in foreign direct investment heading to India after the BJP was
elected to power. The United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD) reported last week that foreign direct investment
in India rose by 22 percent last year to 34 billion.
Fadnavis
said that the state had taken several reforms in regulations to make
doing business in Maharashtra competitive. Backing him Aghi said, "I
have no hesitation in saying that the state has the potential to emerge
as a high ranking state on the ease of doing business index."
"The
infrastructure, a mature workforce, a series of business friendly
administrations over the last few decades makes it an attractive FDI
destination," said Ashok Vasudevan, chairman of Preferred Brands
International, the manufacturer of the Tasty Bite natural foods brand.
"The
state is remarkably resilient due to its diversified base of industry
that includes energy, agriculture, food processing, entertainment,
engineering, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and financial services," he
added.
Photo-1
New Jersey (US): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis calls on the New Jersey Governor Chris Christie at Newark International Airport in New Jersey, United States on June 30, 2015. Also seen United Nations Development Corporation (UNDC) director Andy Keshav Shenoy. (Photo: Mohammed Jaffer/IANS)
Photo 2New Jersey (US): (L to R) New York Indian Consul General Dnyaneshwar M. Mulay, Maharashtra Industries minister Subhash Desai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and United Nations Development Corporation (UNDC) director Andy Keshav Shenoy during a bilateral and trade relation discussion in New Jersey, United States on June 30, 2015. (Photo: Mohammed Jaffer/IANS)