Record Foreign Investment in Maharashtra: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Chief Minister attends Loksatta newspaper anniversary as chief guest

75% of Davos MoUs converted into actual industries
Newspaper-reading initiative to be launched for students

Mumbai, Feb 2026 : Maharashtra receives the highest amount of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country, and this investment is now becoming record-breaking. By turning economic development into a celebration, the state has created an industry-friendly environment, which is why Maharashtra is witnessing “record-breaking” investments, said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The Chief Minister was speaking as the chief guest at a programme organized on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of the Loksatta newspaper. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, and Skill Development Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha were present on the occasion.

Chief Minister Fadnavis said that Memoranda of Understanding worth ₹30 lakh crore were signed at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, while agreements worth ₹12 lakh crore have already been finalized. The government decided to sign only those agreements that bring actual foreign investment into the state. As a result, every agreement signed at Davos will translate into direct foreign investment for Maharashtra. Maharashtra’s pavilion at Davos received an overwhelming response from investors, and among ten states, Maharashtra stood out prominently. Notably, 75% of the agreements signed at Davos are converted into operational industries in the state.

To improve the ‘Ease of Doing Business,’ the state is implementing an initiative titled “Hundred Reforms in Two Months.” These 100 reforms are aimed at making Maharashtra even more attractive to investors. A single-window system for industries has been operationalized through the MAITRI portal. Industrial decentralization is being promoted, with investments reaching even the remotest regions of the state. Gadchiroli is emerging as the ‘Steel City of India,’ while Nagpur has gained prominence in the automobile sector. Mahindra has invested ₹15,000 crore in Nagpur, where it is setting up the largest automobile project in India’s history.

The country’s largest capacity for manufacturing electric vehicles is being developed in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where next-generation electric vehicles will be produced. All five districts of North Maharashtra received investments during Davos. The Nardana Industrial Estate in Dhule district is set to become a magnet for future industries, while industrial development is also reaching backward districts like Nandurbar. The government’s focus is not just on industrialization, but also on creating a strong ecosystem around it. To encourage reading habits among students, a newspaper-reading-based initiative will be launched, ensuring that every student reads at least one newspaper.

The Chief Minister further said that Phase II of the ‘Aaple Sarkar’ portal will be launched by May 1, 2026. Currently, 1,000 government services are available online, but 29 of these services are used by 99% of citizens. If these 29 services are delivered simply, responsibly, and efficiently, citizens will not need to visit government offices and their satisfaction will increase. E-governance has brought significant dynamism to public services, and artificial intelligence will also be used to enhance efficiency further.

On this occasion, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis released the Loksatta Varshvedh 2025 special edition. Senior civil servants and prominent personalities from the Marathi film industry were also present at the event.