The central theme of participation at Plastivision was also to promote ‘Make in India’ week and Maharashtra as an investment destination for investors. The statistics indicate that manufacturing plays a critical role in generating economic growth and development. Maharashtra continues to occupy a unique position in the country’s economy. With 9.3% of the total population and 9.4% of the country’s geographical area, Maharashtra contributes to about 15.3% of overall national employment. The state has been able to attract significantly high levels of investments. It not only has Mumbai, the economic capital of the country, but also emerging industrial spaces such as Pune, Nagpur, Nashik and Aurangabad within its territory. Moreover, the diversity of various manufacturing sectors has given this industry a unique magnetism in the state’s economy and policy.
Over a period, Maharashtra has successfully diversified its industrial base. It has also become a leading automobile production hub and a major IT growth center. At present, Maharashtra’s industrial clusters, auto and auto components represent 38% of national output, apparel and textile 10.4%, and pharmaceuticals and petrochemicals 40%. Maharashtra also continues to attract international attention; for the very first time in 27 years, the World Economic Forum India Economic Summit moved out of the national capital—Delhi—and the obvious choice was the financial capital of the country. Maharashtra has attracted US$ 70.95 billion of FDI over 2000–2014, which is the highest among all states in India.
