MSME Sector Is the Backbone of the State’s Progress – Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Letter of Intent exchanged between Government of Maharashtra and UNIDO in the presence of the Chief Minister

Mumbai, Nov 2025 : Entrepreneurs build industries through their own hard work. If they are provided with technology, support for development, and access to modern tools, these entrepreneurs can create wonders. Maharashtra has the highest number of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country, and this sector forms the backbone of the state’s progress, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.

In the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, a Letter of Intent (LoI) was exchanged between the Government of Maharashtra and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) for cooperation in the field of digital transformation and innovation. This collaboration will accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies in the state’s industrial sector and particularly help MSMEs achieve global competitiveness.

UNIDO is a leading international organisation that supports sustainable and inclusive industrial development worldwide. Meanwhile, the India SME Forum (ISF) works to enhance training, outreach, and competitiveness among micro, small, and medium enterprises. The combined expertise of both organisations will play a crucial role in driving technology-based industrial growth in Maharashtra.

The state’s industrial sector is rapidly transforming with the adoption of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, AR/VR, automation, and Industry 4.0. Against this backdrop, Maharashtra plans to build a strong ecosystem for digital transformation with UNIDO’s technical expertise. There is a proposal to establish Centres of Excellence in Mumbai and Pune, along with sector-specific “Spoke Centres” in key industrial clusters.

This structured model will help bridge the digital divide between large industries and MSMEs, strengthen industrial value chains, and promote wider use of advanced technologies. It will also significantly boost the state’s goals of innovation-driven and sustainable economic growth.