Fadnavis Calls for MSME Survey to Boost Jobs and Investment

Conduct Comprehensive MSME Survey to Build a World-Class Industrial Ecosystem: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
Calls for Sector-Specific Policies to Boost Investment and Employment; Reviews Industry Department Initiatives

Mumbai, July 2026 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the Industry Department to undertake a comprehensive survey of the state’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to build a robust industrial ecosystem and formulate policies that attract investment while generating large-scale employment.

Chairing a review meeting on various industrial policies at his official residence, Varsha, the Chief Minister said Maharashtra continues to attract the highest investment in the country, and the focus must now shift towards converting these investment commitments into operational industries.

The meeting was attended by Industries Minister Uday Samant and senior officials from the Industry Department.

Develop Sector-Specific Policies

Fadnavis instructed officials to formulate comprehensive policies for sectors with strong investment potential and high employment generation capacity. He emphasised that while drafting industrial policies, the government should consult industry experts, successful entrepreneurs, and stakeholders to identify gaps and ensure that policy interventions effectively address existing challenges.

He also stressed the need for the efficient implementation of existing industrial policies, expressing confidence that such efforts would contribute significantly towards building a prosperous Maharashtra.

Strengthening the MSME Ecosystem

Describing MSMEs as the largest employment-generating sector, the Chief Minister said priority should be given to identifying sectors based on investor and entrepreneur requirements. He called for the creation of dedicated platforms to enhance production capacity, improve competitiveness, and expand employment opportunities within MSMEs.

Fadnavis also advocated the adoption of modern technologies to strengthen the sector and directed officials to conduct a detailed survey covering the current status of MSMEs, employment generation capacity, existing workforce, and production capabilities. The findings, he said, should serve as the foundation for future policy decisions.

Convention Centres, Chemical Parks and Circular Economy

The Chief Minister directed that the proposed Media and Arena Policy should promote ease of doing business to facilitate the establishment of large convention centres across major cities in Maharashtra.

He also suggested that the proposed Chemical Industry Policy should include the development of chemical parks to stimulate industrial growth and employment.

Highlighting sustainability, Fadnavis called for a comprehensive Circular Economy Policy, stressing that all industrial policies should remain industry-friendly while promoting long-term economic development.

Make MAITRI Portal Mandatory

The Chief Minister instructed that all industrial approvals and clearances should be processed exclusively through the MAITRI (Maharashtra Industry, Trade and Investment Facilitation Cell) Portal to ensure transparency and efficiency.

He emphasised that services delivered through the portal must maintain high quality standards and that grievances submitted by investors and entrepreneurs should be addressed promptly.

Fadnavis also proposed establishing a dedicated call centre to handle investor complaints. He suggested recording all calls and analysing them using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to identify recurring issues, enabling the government to introduce policy reforms based on data-driven insights.

Rational Land Allocation

The Chief Minister further directed the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) to adopt a rational and transparent mechanism while allotting land in industrial estates. Land allocation, he said, should be based on project feasibility and actual demand to ensure optimal utilisation of industrial infrastructure.

Senior Officials Present

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary (Industries) P. Anbalagan, MIDC Chief Executive Officer Deependra Singh Kushwah, Development Commissioner (Industries) Kadambari Balkawade, and Secretary, Electronics, IT and AI Department, Virendra Singh, among other senior officials.

Policies Reviewed and Proposed

The meeting reviewed several existing policies, including the Industrial Investment and Services Policy 2025, Global Capability Centre Policy 2025, Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) Policy 2025, Gems and Jewellery Policy 2025, Bamboo Industry Policy 2025, and the Bioplastics Policy 2026.

The government also discussed proposed policies covering Leather and Footwear, Garments and Apparel, Media, Entertainment and Arena, Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology and Medical Devices, Defence, Nuclear and Aerospace, Electronics, Semiconductors, Fab and Display, MSMEs, Chemical Industry, and Biofuel sectors, aimed at strengthening Maharashtra’s industrial competitiveness and employment potential.