Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, Swedish PM discuss investment prospects in state

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven in Stockholm, Sweden. (Source: Twitter/@Dev_Fadnavis)

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is on a visit to Sweden, Thursday met Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, discussing investment prospects in defence manufacturing, skill development and other sectors in the state. Fadnavis, accompanied by Union Minister of Trade and Commerce Suresh Prabhu, walked with Lofven to the venue of the India-Sweden Business Leaders’ Round Table. State Industry Minister Subhash Desai too attended the meeting that discussed possible partnerships with Sweden for projects in Mumbai, Nagpur, Nashik, Auranagabad and Pune.

The CM described the meeting as very positive. “We are sitting in the Hall of Mirrors (venue of the event). As I look into these mirrors, I see a great future for India and Sweden together,” Fadnavis said. “Maharashtra will become a trillion dollar economy by 2030. If we look at the recent past, China emerged as the factory of the world, Now, the next decade will belong to India.”

Earlier, global biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca agreed to work with the state government on a pilot project at a civic hospital to improve healthcare facilities. Atul Tandon, Director, Strategy and Commercial Excellence, Astra-Zeneca, lauded Maharashtra’s initiative for screening of non-communicable diseases like diabetes. SKF group president and CEO Alrik Danielson told Fadnavis about its expansion plans in Pune. At a meeting with Mathias Carlbaum, Senior VP, Scania Group at Stockholm, it was decided to work jointly to bring down the cost of biofuel vehicles.