MUMBAI: The state signed MoUs with 15 companies on Monday to bring in an investment of nearly Rs 35,000 crore. Most of the companies are from India and the move is expected to create over 23,000 direct jobs.
The investments will be in the electronics, data centre and logistics sectors. The largest investment is of Rs 10,555 crore, for a data centre to be set up by Net Magic IT Services. CM Thackeray said they would strive to mobilise over Rs 1 lakh crore investments in the current financial year. “The state attracting investments at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic gives hope,” Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said.
Thackeray said the state had delivered on the faith reposed in its government as most of the requirements of the earlier MoUs signed in June during the Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0 conference had been fulfilled in fewer than six months.
He said land had been allotted to 60% of the companies and for the rest it was in the final stages of completion.
Lavishing praise on the industry department, Thackeray said he was proud of it.
“We must have over Rs 1 lakh crore in investments and I have full faith the department will deliver,” he said.
He said the investments showed that the state signified justice and stability.
“The world is facing a crisis it has never seen before. Leaders are faced with tough choices between life and economy, safety and unemployment. The state government has been completely transparent on the Covid-19 figures,” he said.
Bureaucrat Bhushan Gagarani said the government took the help of Indian embassies and Indians abroad to attract investments in the state.
Industry minister Subhash Desai claimed the investments would in reality create even more jobs than projected now, saying there was potential for generating around 35,000 direct jobs and at least a lakh jobs indirectly.