MSMEs key to job creation; Maharashtra to develop strong industrial ecosystem: CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the Industry Department to conduct a detailed survey of micro small and medium enterprises MSMEs and create a stronger ecosystem to support their growthDuring a review meeting on industry policies held in Mumbai Fadnavis said Maharashtra continues to attract the highest investment in the country and stressed the need to convert these investments into industries and employment opportunities an official statement saidThe Chief Minister instructed officials to prepare comprehensive policies for sectors with high investment potential and job creation capacityHe said experts and successful entrepreneurs from respective industries should be consulted while framing policies to identify challenges and address gapsFadnavis also called for effective implementation of existing industrial policies to support the vision of a prosperous Maharashtra it saidMSMEs identified as major employment driversCM Fadnavis said that MSMEs are among the largest sources of employment generation and require focused developmentHe directed officials to studyCurrent status of MSMEsTheir employment generation capacityExisting employment levelsProduction capabilitiesRequirements of entrepreneurs and investorsHe also suggested creating platforms and introducing new technologies to improve productivity and competitiveness in the MSME sectorFocus on chemical parks convention centresDuring the meeting CM Fadnavis reviewed several industrial policies and proposed initiativesHe said the Media and Arena Policy should encourage the development of large convention centres in major cities by ensuring ease of doing businessHe also suggested including chemical parks in the proposed chemical industry policy to generate employment opportunitiesThe Chief Minister called for a comprehensive policy to promote the circular economy in Maharashtra and instructed authorities to ensure that policy implementation remains industryfriendlyMAITRI Portal to be mandatory for industry permissionsFadnavis directed that the MAITRI portal should be made mandatory for all industryrelated approvalsHe instructed officials to ensure that services provided through the portal are efficient and that investor complaints are addressed quicklyHe also suggested setting up a call centre to resolve issues faced by investors and entrepreneursThe Chief Minister said call recordings should be analysed using artificial intelligence to identify recurring issues and help bring policy improvementsReview of industrial land allocationFadnavis also directed the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation MIDC to ensure that industrial land is allocated after assessing feasibility and demandHe said a rational system should be developed for land distribution in industrial estatesThe meeting reviewed various existing and proposed policies includingIndustrial Investment and Services Policy 2025Global Capability Centre Policy 2025Animation Visual Effects Gaming and Comics ndash Extended Reality Policy 2025Gems and Jewellery Policy 2025Bamboo Industry Policy 2025Bioplastics Policy 2026Proposed policies discussed included those related toLeather and nonleather industriesFootwear and apparelMedia entertainment and arenaPharmaceuticals biotechnology and medical devicesDefence nuclear and aerospaceElectronics semiconductors fabs and displaysMSMEsChemical industriesBiofuelsOfficials attend review meetingThe meeting was attended by Industry Minister Uday Samant and senior officials including Principal Secretary Industries P Anbalagan MIDC Chief Executive Officer Deependra Singh Kushwah Development Commissioner Industries Kadambari Balkawade and Electronics IT and AI Department Secretary Virendra Singh the official statement said