‘The Prime Minister, in his address
at the National Conference held on 18th April 2006 in
Mumbai observed that last year was a good year for the
Indian manufacturing enterprise. Therefore, it was not
only possible to sustain the current economic growth
rate of 8% but to realistically hope to target a rate
of 10%. The Prime Minister also acknowledged the significance
of the manufacturing sector which can provide jobs that
are required to absorb the vast number of people who
are unemployed at the moment, especially those who will
need to move out of agriculture. He cited the National
Manufacturing Competitiveness Council’s identification
of key sectors where India can become a global manufacturing
hub and the advocacy of “cluster approach”
for ensuring economies of scales and scope in the development
of key industries. He mentioned that the boom in the
SEZs will create competitive export clusters. He also
emphasized that the industrial strategy must focus on
all spheres of modern manufacturing and that an effective
policy intervention in the manufacturing sector would
require better coordination between various departments
of the Government.’
The State of Maharashtra has always
played a leadership role in the national economic and
social renaissance. It has looked at advances in science
and technology as great opportunities for bringing about
economic transformation and social change. One great
opportunity in this new century, rightly termed as the
'Century of Knowledge', is the emergence of knowledge-based
industries. Information Technology (IT) was just a forerunner
among these industries and Maharashtra responded rapidly
and became a leading State in IT. Another emerging opportunity
on the horizon is Biotechnology.
Maharashtra is a leading state
in production of Grapes in the whole country. In regards
to agriculture land under grapes cultivation and grapes
production, Nashik and Sangli districts are at forefront
in the State. Apart from these, grapes are also grown
in the districts of Ahmednagar, Pune, Satara, Solapur
& Osmanabad. Nowadays, grapes are produced in Latur
district of Marathwada also. However, Nashik and Sangli
districts are ahead in the production of grapes in a
scientific manner. The progressive farmers in these
districts have also entered in the grapes exports and
grapes processing sector.
Maharashtra has been the Leader
on industrial front of India. It has always been the
endeavour to develop sustaining industrial growth, facilitate
speedier flow of investment by creating conducive industrial
climate in the State. Maharashtra has developed a solid
base of industrial infrastructure, strong Human Resources,
and sustaining and diverse industrial base. This was
possible because Maharashtra pioneered several policy
initiatives, since inception, in diverse fields.
With its strong HRD and infrastructure,
Maharashtra is well posed to take full advantage of
the Information Technology revolution sweeping the globe.
The State has a leading position in India, itself a
nation with rare potential in the Information Technology
sector. The Centre for the Development for Advanced
Computing, C-DAC, which developed India's Super Computer,
is located at Pune in Maharashtra. The State also boasts
of the largest number of software companies and accounts
for the biggest portion of India's software exports.
It is Maharashtra Government's commitment to strengthen
the State's leading position and to make its Information
Technology industry globally competitive. To give its
efforts proper thrust, the Government of Maharashtra
has taken a number of policy initiatives in the areas
of HRD, Infrastructure, Incentives to the Information
Technology industry and computerisation of Citizen-Government
interface.
Government of Maharashtra has been
supporting development of industry and business through
a series of far-reaching policy initiatives. The Information
Technology industry has been an important thrust area
and has been receiving government support. During the
last five years, the Government focussed on HRD, IT
related infrastructure, fiscal incentives to IT units,
IT in Governance and Institutional Framework for the
IT sector. These initiatives have enabled the IT industry
in the State to establish an initial lead and a firm
foundation for a quantum leap has been laid. Exports
of software and ITES from the State presently account
for about 20% share of the country's exports. These
exports have registered an annual growth of more than
30% during the last four years. The whole State has
been connected through an Optical Fibre Cable Network
and a statewide network of competent training institutions
has been established for building a pool of world-class
IT professionals for providing strength and support
to the IT industry in the State.
SEZs are specifically delineated
duty-free enclaves treated as a foreign territory for
the purpose of industrial, service and trade operations,
with exemption from customs duties and a more liberal
regime in respect of other levies, foreign investment
and other transactions. Domestic regulations, restrictions
and infrastructure inadequacies are sought to be eliminated
in the SEZs for creating a hassle-free environment.
The State of Maharashtra has
been in the forefront in attracting foreign direct investment
for accelerating the pace of economic growth. The SEZ
scheme seeks to create a simple and transparent system
and procedures for enhancing productivity and the ease
of doing business in Maharashtra.
