Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the Industries Department at Varsha residence, Mumbai, directing officials to frame holistic policies for industry, investment and employment to build a prosperous Maharashtra. The meeting covered the state's industrial progress, foreign and domestic investment planning, and a detailed review of services for the industrial sector.

Context

The CMO post, in Marathi, states that 'देशात सर्वाधिक गुंतवणूक महाराष्ट्रात येत आहे' ('Maharashtra receives the highest investment in the country') and that this capital must be converted into real industrial activity. CM Fadnavis directed departments to consult domain experts and successful entrepreneurs while drafting growth policies, and to use those policies to address existing sectoral gaps.

The Chief Minister also expressed confidence that effective implementation of existing and upcoming industrial policies would lead to the creation of a 'Sampann Maharashtra' — a prosperous Maharashtra.

Policy Backdrop

A sweeping set of sector-specific policies was reviewed and proposed at the meeting. Policies already under review include the Industry Investment and Services Policy 2025, Global Capability Centre Policy 2025, Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics — Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) Policy 2025, Gems and Jewellery Policy 2025, Bamboo Industry Policy 2025, and Bio-Plastics Policy 2026.

Proposed new policies span sectors including Leather, Non-Leather, Footwear, Apparels and Accessories; Garment and Apparel; Media, Entertainment and Arena; Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology and Medical Devices; Defence, Nuclear and Aerospace; Electronics, Semiconductors, Fab and Display; MSME; Chemical Industry; and Biofuels. CM Fadnavis directed that the proposed Chemical Industry Policy must include Chemical Parks within the state, and that the Media and Arena Policy must ease business conditions for the construction of large convention centres in major cities.

He also called for a comprehensive policy for the development of a Circular Economy in the state, and instructed agencies to ensure all policies remain industry-friendly during implementation. Maharashtra has historically maintained the highest share of foreign direct investment among all Indian states, and successive governments have used policy updates to sustain that lead.

MSME Focus and MAITRI Portal Mandate

CM Fadnavis placed special emphasis on micro, small and medium enterprises, directing a deep survey of the MSME sector covering current status, employment generation capacity, existing employment levels and production. He instructed officials to identify sectors according to investor and entrepreneur requirements, and to develop new technology platforms to enhance MSME productivity and job creation — describing MSMEs as the 'highest employment-generating sector'.

In a significant administrative directive, the Chief Minister made it mandatory for all industrial approvals to be routed exclusively through the MAITRI portal. He ordered the launch of a dedicated call centre for resolving investor and entrepreneur grievances, with every call to be recorded and subjected to AI-based analysis to identify recurring complaints and enable policy-level corrective action.

On land allocation, CM Fadnavis directed the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) to assess viability before allotting land in industrial estates, and to develop rational, transparent allocation methods.

Stakeholders and What's Next

Industries Minister Uday Samant and senior officials were present at the meeting. The directives signal an imminent push to formally notify the reviewed 2025-2026 policies and operationalise the upgraded MAITRI portal and proposed call centre.

With Maharashtra cementing its position as India's top investment destination, the formalisation of these sector-specific policies — particularly in high-growth verticals such as semiconductors, defence, aerospace and green industries — will be closely watched by domestic and foreign investors as a benchmark for industrial governance in India's largest economy by output.