Davos, Jan 21 (NationPress) The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), representing the Maharashtra government, has entered into agreements with several international companies to foster the development of the growth centre located in the Pen tehsil of the Raigad district.

During the signing of the MoU, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was present. The project is envisioned as the 'Third Mumbai', destined to become a cutting-edge hub for technology, fintech, and data centres, and will also be home to India's inaugural dedicated Global Capability Centre (GCC) district. CM Fadnavis extended a warm invitation to global companies to consider the Raigad Pen Growth Centre as a top-tier destination for business and investment, as mentioned in a release from the CMO.

The CMO's statement revealed that the participating companies hail from various countries, including South Korea, Switzerland, the US, Finland, India, the UAE, Singapore, among others.

Fadnavis shared that he had a fruitful discussion with Jessica Rosenworcel, Executive Director of MIT Media Lab, at #WEF26 in Davos, centering around the transformative potential of Digital Public Infrastructure in India and its role in promoting inclusive governance. They also explored how these digital initiatives are bolstering Maharashtra's growth by improving service delivery, encouraging innovation, and developing scalable solutions for the future.

He mentioned having an engaging dialogue with Andrew Ponec, CEO of Antora Energy, on thermal energy storage solutions that convert solar and wind energy into zero-carbon industrial heat and electricity, thereby supporting Maharashtra’s clean and sustainable industrial growth.

The Chief Minister remarked on a pleasant interaction with Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, where they exchanged insights on geopolitics, emerging business opportunities in India, and the nation's growing influence in the global economy.

In another interaction, he expressed appreciation for his conversation with Patricia F. Russo, Chairman of Hewlett-Packard, along with Bhawna Agarwal, Senior VP and Managing Director for India, at #WEF2026 in Davos. Their discussion highlighted key aspects of the global technology landscape, including digitization and the application of AI for security, marking it as a productive dialogue that promises further collaboration with Maharashtra.

He also engaged in a significant discussion with Alon Stopel, Chairman of the Israel Innovation Authority, focusing on enhancing innovation-driven partnerships, fostering sustainable growth, and exploring deeper collaborations in technology and R&D.

The CMO statement notes that Fadnavis and Maersk CEO Vincent Clerk discussed the circular economy in the Mumbai Data Centre and various developmental projects in Maharashtra.

Fadnavis also met with Ville Tavio, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, reinforcing the strong India–Finland partnership and discussing plans to organize a dedicated circular economy event in Mumbai to promote greater collaboration between Finnish and Maharashtrian companies.