NEW YORK (TIP): Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Phadnavis was given a rousing welcome, June 29, by the Indian American community at a Community Reception, appropriately named  ‘Maharashtra meets Manhattan’. The reception in his honor was  hosted by Friends of Maharashtra and Consulate General of India at the Taj Pierre in New York City, where  Prime Minister Modi was hosted last year.

Maharashtra Chief Minister lauded the contribution of NRI’s. He said, “The success of Indians here gives me immense pride. But now it’s time to give back.”

Phadnavis spoke of the demographic advantage of India where 50% population is below the age of 25. He said  India was in a position to provide human resource to the entire world and the time to fulfill the dream of becoming the topmost nation of the world had arrived.

Pitching for ‘Make in Maharashtra’, he mentioned that his government has reduced the number of permissions from 148 to 20 to make Maharashtra investor friendly. He also spoke about different upcoming projects undertaken by him like coastal road, Mumbai-New Mumbai connecting  road, and second international airport near Navi Mumbai. He said the projects of roads and bridges the government was contemplating would decongest entire Western Mumbai. He also spoke of the project to have 30 smart cities, each with a different theme and another project, an automobile hub in Aurangabad.

“Maharashtra is full of possibilities. There are huge opportunities”, he said. He invited the gathered Indian Americans to invest in Maharashtra and assured them of his personal attention to their needs . He said he works 24/7 and is available 365 days of the year.

Others who spoke included Consul General Dnyaneshwar Mulay who welcomed the Chief Minister and the Industries Minister Subhash Desai who outlined the opportunities for investors in the industries sector in his State.

Earlier, in the day, a group of U.S. industry executives from the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) met with him for a discussion about investment opportunities in the state.

The Chief Minister engaged with senior business executives on important topics that have dominated the bilateral commercial relationship in recent months and addressed areas such as Maharashtra’s comparative edge as an investment destination, regulatory reform measures that have been undertaken by the government to promote ease of doing business in the state, and cultural dialogues that can enhance the bilateral relations between India and the United States.

Emphasizing the investment opportunities that are available in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Fadnavis said, “The Government has taken a variety of measures to promote ease of doing business in the state and we want to be viewed as a top destination for both domestic as well as international investments. The state eagerly awaits the formation of joint ventures in critical projects such as the Delhi – Mumbai Industrial corridor, Smart Cities and in sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, aviation, engineering and IT. Our Government is committed to providing a boost to both Make in India and Make in Maharashtra campaigns, provide business to both medium and small enterprises and create much-needed jobs. We invite investors from the United States to be a part of Maharashtra’s growth story.”

Lauding the vision of Chief Minister Fadnavis, Mukesh Aghi, President of USIBC, said, “The Council’s member companies have been encouraged by the ease of doing business in Maharashtra. Many of the companies have significant investments in the state. Therefore, appropriate and timely policy measures are critical. USIBC and member companies look forward to participating in the state’s investment opportunities that will not only promote entrepreneurship, but also inclusive growth, positioning it as a model state both in India and globally. I have no hesitation in saying that the state has the potential to emerge as a high ranking state on the ease of doing business index.”

Ashok Vasudevan, Chairman and CEO of Preferred Brands International, manufacturer and marketer of the natural foods brand, Tasty Bite, said, “Tasty Bite has been operating in Maharashtra since the early 90’s and has become one of India’s largest exporter of prepared foods. The state is remarkably resilient due to its diversified base of industry that includes energy, agriculture, food processing, entertainment, engineering, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and financial services. The infrastructure, a mature workforce, a series of business friendly administrations over the last few decades makes it an attractive FDI destination.”

The event was also attended by companies and senior leaders from every major sector of business- Monsanto, Taj Hotels, HSBC, Caterpillar, Cargill, Johnson and Johnson, KPMG, Baker & McKenzie, Citi, New Silk Route and Pfizer.