Cooperation to Cover Financial Services, Clean Energy, Advanced Manufacturing, Skill Development, Education and Several Other Sectors
Mumbai, September 2026 : Maharashtra’s partnership with Australia’s New South Wales, which has been in place since 2012, will be made broader, more ambitious and more outcome-oriented, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.
In the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed at Varsha, the Chief Minister’s official residence, covering cooperation in financial services, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, critical minerals, agricultural technology, healthcare, education, skill development, technology, culture and sports. Fadnavis said these sectors were aligned with Maharashtra’s objective of becoming a developed and globally competitive state by 2047.
Fadnavis noted that Mumbai and Sydney serve as financial and business gateways for India and Australia respectively. He therefore called upon financial institutions, professional services firms, infrastructure investors and superannuation funds from New South Wales to view Maharashtra as a key gateway for investment in India. He said the expansion of transport infrastructure, industrial corridors, urban development, renewable energy and digital infrastructure in Maharashtra was creating significant long-term investment opportunities.
There is also considerable potential for cooperation in technology, manufacturing and energy transition, Fadnavis said. Maharashtra is developing strong ecosystems in electric vehicles, batteries, electronics, semiconductors, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing. New South Wales’ experience in mining technology, critical minerals, clean energy and innovation could help develop joint projects in battery manufacturing, green hydrogen, renewable energy and energy storage, he added.
In skill development, opportunities exist for Technical and Further Education institutions in New South Wales to work with industrial organisations and skill development institutions in Maharashtra on joint courses, trainer training, digital learning and industry-linked certification programmes. Fadnavis also invited universities from New South Wales to participate in the international education city being developed near Navi Mumbai.
He said New South Wales’ experience in drought management, agriculture and water conservation could prove useful for Maharashtra’s Marathwada and Vidarbha regions. He expressed the expectation that partnerships between agricultural universities in the two regions would be strengthened.
Fadnavis said a joint working group would be established within 90 days to ensure effective implementation of the MoU. The group would identify key projects, define responsibilities for institutions in both states and regularly review progress.
Focus on Strengthening Maharashtra-New South Wales Economic Ties: NSW Premier Chris Minns
Cooperation between Maharashtra and New South Wales will be expanded across mining, technology, tourism and education, as well as advanced manufacturing, the circular economy, healthcare and mining technology, with a focus on strengthening economic ties between the two regions, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said.
The MoU between Maharashtra and New South Wales has given a new direction to economic relations between the two states, Minns said.
He noted that young people from Maharashtra have been travelling to Australia for education for several decades, while the Indian-Australian community in New South Wales has strong family, cultural and linguistic ties with Maharashtra. This community, he said, represents an important bridge between the two states.
Minns said Australians of Indian origin have made a significant contribution to Australia’s development and that New South Wales was proud of their Indian heritage.
The economies of Maharashtra and New South Wales have complementary strengths that can be leveraged to expand bilateral cooperation, he said. Minns welcomed Chief Minister Fadnavis’ proposal to establish a joint working group to identify concrete opportunities in the sectors covered by the MoU.
Appreciating Fadnavis’ initiative and vision in strengthening relations between Maharashtra and New South Wales, Premier Minns invited the Chief Minister to visit Sydney.
Minister for Protocol and Marketing Jaykumar Rawal, Additional Chief Secretary of the Skill Development Department Manisha Verma, Industry Department Secretary Dr Anbalagan, Principal Secretary of the Protocol Department Dr Rajesh Gawande and Chief Minister’s Investment Adviser Kaustubh Dhavse were present on the occasion.
From New South Wales, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, Australian High Commissioner to India Philip Green, Secretary Michael Coutts-Trotter, Trade and Investment Commissioner Malini Dutt and Director Sachin Saxena were also present.
