Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said the wicket for India-Australia relations is strong, and it’s time to play T-20 cricket. Fadnavis stated that Maharashtra is the best state for industries and investment. He mentioned that it is an industry-friendly state in the country and the best for setting up industry and investment. Fadnavis asserted that there is a conducive environment for investment in the state under ease-of-doing business. He was speaking at the India Australia Business and Community Alliance’s (IABCA) Global Leaders Forum. Australian High Commissioner Philip Green also spoke on the occasion. Fadnavis also addressed top industrialists at the Maharashtra Australia Industry Roundtable on the sidelines of the forum.IABCA is the leading platform dedicated to strengthening the India-Australia relationship by celebrating the people-to-people connections that unite both nations. Marketing and protocol minister Jayakumar Rawal, IABCA founder Sonia Sadiq Gandhi, and industries secretary P Anbalgan were also present. On Thursday evening, the IABCA 2025 Gala Awards and Dinner was held in the city, celebrating Australia-India relations. The event saw the special presence of cricket legend Steve Waugh, along with others like Australia’s High Commissioner H E Philip Green and former High Commissioner Barry O’Farrel. culture and IT minister Ashish Shelar was chief guestStating that he is always ready to fulfil the expectations of investors and entrepreneurs, Fadnavis said the state govt is formulating new and comprehensive policies for various sectors. “Policies for 14 sectors will be announced in the coming days. This includes the service sector. The service sector plays a major role in the economic progress of the state. The MAITRI portal has been created so that entrepreneurs and investors do not face any problems and can obtain all the permissions quickly. This is a one-stop scheme, and efforts are being made to ensure that entrepreneurs have a good experience while investing in the state,” he said.Fadnavis mentioned that new improvements are being made in the ease of doing business. “New investment concepts are being implemented. A network of expressways is being built in the state. The state will be an important partner in the maritime trade sector due to Vadhavan port. Important places in the entire state are being connected to Vadhavan port at a distance of six hours. There are huge investment opportunities in the state in the sectors of sewage management, its processing, solar energy, and infrastructure. Australian industries should take advantage of this. Initiatives should be taken for investment in this sector. A new airport is being built in Pune. This will further accelerate the development of Pune city. New infrastructure projects are being built in Pune for fast transportation. The govt is taking positive decisions for industries and investors,” the CM said.Fadnavis stated that Australia is a leading country in the field of education. “Many Indian students go there for education. Now that education will be available in Edu City in Navi Mumbai. Also, the agreement signed by Curtin University with Gondwana University will provide technical education in the mining sector, and the iron industry in Gadchiroli district will benefit from it. Gadchiroli will be the steel capital of the country,” he said.
