Maharashtra has always led the country's industrial development
scenario and continues to attract the largest quantum of investments,
both domestic and foreign. The State has established strengths in every
sector including engineering, automobiles and auto components, chemicals,
drugs and pharmaceuticals, textiles, information technology and biotechnology.
It offers the finest infrastructure, excellent educational facilities,
quality trained manpower, a professional work ethic and a conducive business
environment. A wide variety of horticultural crops are also grown in the
State, making it a major producer of oilseeds, rice, cotton, sugarcane,
etc. In addition, the rich heritage, trade, culture, history and growing
economy of the State are the major tourist attractions.
Biotechnology
Maharashtra is a leader in biotechnology because of its
diverse strengths such as superior human resources, excellent private
and public institutions, superb infrastructure and proactive Government
policies. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC); Indian Institute of Technology
(IIT); Tata Institute of Fundamental Research(TIFR); National Chemical
Laboratory (NCL); National Centre For Cell Science (NCCS); National Institute
of Virology (NIV); National AIDS Research Institute (NARI); Agharkar Research
Institute (ARI); National Environmental Engineering Research Institute
(NEERI); etc. are some of the leading institutions in Mumbai and Pune
doing pioneering research work in the field of biotechnology. In addition,
some defence research establishments in the State are conducting cutting
edge research in biomedicals, bioinformatics and biotechnology.
The core competence and strengths of the biotech industries
of Maharashtra are:-
- Handling fermentation-based products;
- Use of plant and animal parts for
extracting value added products of high purity;
- Use of cell/microbial culture techniques;
- Plant breeding techniques;
- Plant cell/tissue culture; etc.
Information Technology (IT)
Maharashtra accounts for more than 30 percent of the country's
software exports, with over 1,200 software units based in the State, thus
providing a familiar and friendly environment for the IT companies. The
Government of Maharashtra has recognised IT industry as an important thrust
area in the State. It is largely focusing on providing 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 of the
State to establish a firm foundation for itself in the country. The whole
State has been connected through an Optical Fibre Cable Network and a
Statewide network of competent training institutions have been established
for building a pool of world-class IT professionals, in order to provide
strength and support to the IT industry in the State. Besides, the State
Government has framed an IT policy so as to make Maharashtra the most
favoured destination for investments in the IT and ITES industry.
In order to provide further impetus
to the IT industry, Government of Maharashtra has set up several state-of-the-art
IT parks within the State. These IT parks provide a perfect base of operations
for the best international and national IT houses. The most prominent
Information Technology Parks in Maharashtra are:-
- Talawade IT Park, Dehu-Moshi Road, Pune.
- Millennium Business Park (MBP), Navi Mumbai
- Hinjewadi IT Park Phase I, Hinjewadi, Pune
- Hinjewadi IT Park Phase II, Hinjewadi, Pune
- Kolhapur IT Park, Kolhapur
- Sangli IT Park, Vishrambag, Sangli
- Nagpur IT Park, Nagpur
- Deogiri Infotech Park, Aurangabad
- Kharadi IT Park, Kharadi, Pune
Besides, the Mumbai-Pune Knowledge Corridor is fast emerging
as the IT hub of the country. It is a six lane, dual carriage expressway
built to link the two cities of Mumbai and Pune. These two cities provide
the best infrastructure in terms of housing, education, transport and
power, making them the perfect hosts for the IT industry.
Agriculture and Horticulture
Maharashtra is a leading State in agriculture. Principal
crops grown in the State are rice, jowar, bajra, wheat , tur, mung, urad,
gram and other pulses. The State is a major producer of oilseeds. Groundnut,
sunflower, soyabean are the major oil seed crops. The important cash crops
are cotton, sugarcane, turmeric and vegetables. State is pioneer in onion
production in the country. It is today emerging as an important horticultural
State in the country. Different types of soil, diverse agro climatic conditions,
adequate technical manpower, well developed communication facilities,
increasing trend in drip irrigation, green house, use of cool chain facilities
and vibrant farmer organisation offer wide opportunities to grow
different horticultural crops in the State. Best quality grapes produced
in the State are now exported to other countries.
Mango, particularly 'Alphanso', grown in Konkan, has already established
name in the international market. The State has an area of 13.66 lakh
hectares under various fruit crops like mango, banana,
orange, grape, cashewnut, etc.
Floriculture
Maharashtra is a major producer of floriculture products
with more than 4000 hectares of area under various flowers. The major
traditional flowers grown in Maharashtra are rose, chrysanthemum, marigold,
jasmine and tuberose. Whereas, gladioluses, aster, zinnia, Stacie, lilies,
gerberas and carnations are grown among the non-traditional flowers. Maharashtra
has emerged as a leading State for production, export and consumption
of flowers in the country. The most important features of floriculture
development in the State is setting up of large number of Export Oriented
Units with foreign collaboration and investment. The climate of Pune and
Nashik region, facilitate the setting up of such units without heavy investment
on environment control. Maharashtra is offering state of the art infrastructure
for floriculture industry to grow. Also, peaceful and non-hazardous environment
is responsible for successful operation of these units. Besides, the State
Government is promoting a Floriculture Park at Talegaon near Pune.
Food Processing
Food processing industries in Maharashtra consists of
very basic processing. The main processing industries in the State are
in the sectors of sugar, milk, poultry, rice mill, flour mill, meat, edible
oil, vanaspati, fruit and vegetable units, milk processing units etc.
There exist immense opportunities for modernising food processing units
in the State. Rice, wheat, soyabean, jawar, grapes, pomegranates and mangoes
are the main crops that are available in the State for primary and secondary
process. Similarly, there is a vast potential for development and setting
up processing units for tomatoes, onion, cabbage, okra and cauliflower.
In particular, fruit juice pulp and concentrated units, winery, distillery,
pickles, rice mill, flour mill, dal mill, soyabean extraction and refining
units etc. can be set up in the industrial areas of the State.
Automobiles
The Auto sector has played a key role in the industrialization
of the State. Every single segment of the sector including two and three
wheelers, passenger cars and commercial vehicles is represented in the
State. The major automobile centres in the State include Pune, Nashik,
Aurangabad and Nagpur. Pune is a home to large players like Bajaj Auto
Ltd, Daimler Chrysler Ltd, TELCO, etc. While, Nashik is a home of India's
largest multi-utility vehicle manufacturer, Mahindra & Mahindra.
The State accounts for approximately 38 per cent of the
country's output of automobiles by value. Around 40 per cent of the workforce
engaged in the automobile industry is employed in the State. The key competitive
strength of the State in the automobiles and auto components industries
is the presence of established manufacturers. Besides, the strong presence
of the engineering sector is an additional advantage to the State, along
with its large skilled labour base. The good transport infrastructure
in the State is also a positive factor for the logistics-intensive auto
industry.
Textiles
Maharashtra has an excellent infrastructure to play a key
role in the growth of the textiles industry. It accounts for about 65
million kg of cotton production which is 25% of the country's total. The
textile industry of the State holds a strategic importance in the country
as it is the single largest employer and contributes around 27% of India's
total exports. It also holds immense future potential in global markets,
particularly in value added segments like garments and ready-to-wear goods.
Besides, the textile parks are being set up in Maharashtra in order to
maintain its leadership position in textile exports and production. These
Textile Parks are aimed to provide world class infrastructural components
for textile sector and enhance its productive capacity.
Tourism
Tourism is well recognised as a major growth engine of
the State. Maharashtra abounds in numerous tourist attractions ranging
from ancient caves, temples, beaches, palaces, ancient forts and monuments,
forests and wildlife, unique hill stations, pilgrimage centres, and a
rich tradition of festivals, art and culture. Some important tourist centres
are:- Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta, Kanheri and Karla caves, Mahabaleshwar,
Matheran and Panchgani, Jawhar, Malshejghat, Amboli, Chikaldara, Panhala
Hill stations and religious places at Pandharpur, Nasik, Shirdi, Jyotirlingas,
Nanded, Audhanagnath, Trimbakeshwar, Tuljapur, Ganpatipule, Bhimashanker,
Harihareshwar, Shegaon, Kolhapur, Jejuri and Ambajogai. Also, the world
famous Prince of Wales Museum houses an exquisite collection of Rajput
and Mughal miniatures, as well as rare pieces of Tibetan, Japanese and
Chinese art.
The State's coastal region is endowed with creeks, rivers,
beaches and water fronts that could be developed for tourism and water
sports activities. The Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, with its dense
forests, is home to several wild life sanctuaries and nature parks. Mumbai
is famous for its hindi film industry, known as Bollywood, which is a
major attraction of the State. However, in places like Pune, Wai, Satara,
Nashik, Palshi and Paithan, there are Wadas (havelis) full of excellent
wood carvings.
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