Mumbai, Aug 2026 : Maharashtra and the German state of Hesse have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen mutual cooperation in areas including investment, innovation, employment and skill development.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the partnership between Maharashtra and Hesse represents cooperation between two economically strong states. He said Hesse could serve as Maharashtra’s gateway to Germany and Europe, while Maharashtra could become Hesse’s gateway to India and the Indo-Pacific region.
The MoU was signed during a meeting held at Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai. Chief Minister Fadnavis and Hesse Minister-President Boris Rhein signed the agreement in the presence of senior officials from Maharashtra and a delegation from Hesse.
Fadnavis said the India-Germany partnership was built on strong foundations of trust, knowledge, trade, innovation and people-to-people ties. He said national-level cooperation between the two countries was now being complemented by economic partnerships at the state level.
Highlighting the economic strengths of both regions, Fadnavis noted that Frankfurt is one of Europe’s leading financial centres, while Mumbai is India’s financial capital. He said the two cities could serve as gateways to each other’s economies, particularly in finance, industry, technology, research and skilled human resources.
The Chief Minister said Maharashtra was committed to becoming one of the world’s leading destinations for investment and innovation. He described companies and industry groups from Hesse as potential partners in achieving this objective.
He also said the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement would create a more favourable environment for trade and investment. According to Fadnavis, sectors such as machinery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical technology, automobiles, manufacturing and life sciences in Maharashtra could benefit from the improved business environment.
The MoU covers four key areas — industry, services, information technology, and skilled manpower and cross-border mobility. It also opens up opportunities for cooperation in pharmaceuticals, healthcare, engineering, automobiles, financial services, logistics, the digital economy and artificial intelligence.
Fadnavis invited companies from Hesse to increase their investments in Maharashtra and encouraged Maharashtra-based businesses to use Hesse as a gateway to the German and wider European markets.
He also stressed the importance of cooperation in education, research and skill development. The Chief Minister expressed his desire for leading universities from Hesse to establish a presence at the Education City being developed near Navi Mumbai.
Referring to Germany’s growing demand for skilled workers and Maharashtra’s large young population, Fadnavis called for greater cooperation to create new avenues for skill development and employment.
He proposed setting up a joint working group to oversee implementation of the agreement. He also suggested that a regular “Maharashtra-Hesse Business Dialogue” be organised alternately in Mumbai and Hesse to facilitate interaction between businesses, investors and policymakers.
Boris Rhein praised the rapid infrastructure development taking place in Maharashtra under Fadnavis’ leadership and appreciated the state’s efforts to create a favourable environment for global industrial and technology investments.
Rhein said relations between India and Germany, as well as between Maharashtra and Hesse, extend beyond economic and industrial cooperation. He said they are also rooted in shared values such as democracy, the rule of law, multilateral cooperation and a rules-based international order.
Describing Hesse as one of Germany’s most important financial and economically significant states, Rhein said the MoU would provide fresh momentum to cooperation in industry, investment, skill development and exchanges of business delegations.
He expressed confidence that the partnership would strengthen investor support, facilitate new business opportunities and deepen economic ties between Maharashtra and Hesse.
