Maharashtra kicked off its participation at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 with a strong start, signing 19 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth approximately INR 14.5 lakh crore (USD 173 billion). These investments are expected to generate over 15 lakh jobs across multiple sectors, signaling robust global confidence in the state’s markets, infrastructure, and growth prospects.
The state pavilion, inaugurated as part of Maharashtra’s Davos presence, served as a hub for structured discussions and investment facilitation. It showcased the state’s focus on transforming into a five trillion-dollar economy under the “Viksit Maharashtra 2047” vision.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis engaged in high-level meetings with international companies including Coca Cola, Antora Energy, and Brookfield. Discussions emphasised expanding operations, scaling production, strengthening supply chains, and positioning Maharashtra as a preferred base for India’s domestic and regional markets. He was accompanied by Industries Minister Uday Samant and senior officials from the CMO, Industry Investment and Services Department, and MMRDA.
The Industry, Investment and Services Department, responsible for industrial development in the state, facilitated investments worth INR 3.13 lakh crore (~USD 38 billion) in sectors such as food processing, renewable energy, green steel, EV and automotive, shipbuilding, and digital infrastructure. These projects are expected to create over 4.4 lakh jobs in Maharashtra. “With MAITRI, our single-window investment facilitation system, we are ready to implement these investments efficiently,” the department noted.
Maharashtra Lands Key Investment Deals
Notable MoUs include Lodha Group’s first data center investment of INR 1 lakh crore (~USD 12 billion), Arcelor Mittal’s sustainable steel manufacturing project worth INR 1.1 lakh crore (~USD 12 billion), and Surjagad Ispat’s INR 20,000 crore initiative in rural Gadchiroli, creating 8,000 jobs. Yoki Green Energy also committed INR 4,000 crore for renewable energy projects in the state.
Maharashtra’s maritime sector received a significant boost with Yeoman Marine Services announcing strategic shipbuilding and maritime investments of INR 1,050 crore (~USD 120 million). Meanwhile, MMRDA signed MoUs worth around INR 11 lakh crore (~USD 137 billion) with global infrastructure leaders including Brookfield (Canada) and Sumitomo (Japan). Partnerships with JICA (Japan), University of California, Berkeley (USA), Sembcorp (Singapore), Technical University of Munich (Germany), and Urban Futures Collective Consortium (UK) were also formalised to support Mumbai’s long-term development as a global-ready city.
The state has demonstrated that a collaborative, mission-mode approach under strong leadership ensures that investment intentions are translated into actionable projects. A remarkable three-quarters of last year’s MoUs have already moved into implementation. Companies such as Carlsberg Group and Skoda Auto Volkswagen have expanded investments in Maharashtra, citing expedited government support.
With a successful start at Davos, Maharashtra aims to further attract investments across AI, quantum computing, digital infrastructure, shipping, EVs, renewables, fintech, logistics, and urban development throughout the week.
About MIDC:
The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) is the state government’s nodal agency for industrial growth and investment facilitation. Since its establishment in 1962, MIDC has developed over 300 industrial areas covering 250,000 acres, supporting balanced regional industrialisation across sectors such as electronics, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, textiles, IT, biotechnology, defence manufacturing, and electric mobility.
