Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the state's economy is currently valued at approximately $660 billion, contributing nearly 15 per cent to India's GDP. "For decades, Maharashtra has been India's economic engine. Now, we have set ourselves a clear goal—a $1 trillion Maharashtra economy by 2030," he said.
Fadnavis said the plan and strategy to achieve this target are built on two key pillars: speed and infrastructure. To accelerate approvals, the government has introduced the MAITRI single-window platform with statutory authority.
"If a department misses its clearance deadline, MAITRI can override it and issue the approval directly. As a result, 96 per cent of projects and investment proposals have progressed on time. Alongside this, Maharashtra has launched a 100-point reform agenda to benchmark the state against the world's best-administered economies," the chief minister said in a video message at the $1 Trillion Economy Maharashtra-The Road Ahead event organised by THE WEEK in Mumbai.
Fadnavis added that the state’s capital spending is often underestimated because people look only at the state budget. “Through MMRDA and MSRDC, we are executing projects that are roughly 10 times what the budget alone reflects,” he said.
Fadnavis claimed that Maharashtra’s manufacturing base accounts for a fifth of India's automobile output, which is now pivoting towards EVs and clean tech. “We host nearly a quarter of India's Global Capability Centres (GCCs) and Mumbai remains the headquarters of Indian capital markets. We are investing deliberately in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and clean energy sectors that will define competitiveness for the next 20 years," he said.
The chief minister further remarked that the upcoming Vadhavan Port and the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link will cement Maharashtra's position as India's western trade gateway. "Inclusive growth is not an afterthought. It runs through every decision. We are investing in affordable housing, healthcare and infrastructure, and skilling youth for the jobs that GCCs, manufacturing, and the service sector will generate,” Fadnavis said.
The chief minister mentioned the Navi Mumbai International Airport, India's largest greenfield airport, which will handle 90 million passengers annually. He said that the state government is building NAINA, a planned EduCity with global universities, a MediCity, and an international corporate park. “A trillion dollar Maharashtra is not a distant aspiration. It is a destination we can see from here, and we are building the pathway to reach it,” remarked Fadnavis.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Riyad Mathew, Chief Associate Editor and Director of THE WEEK, said that THE WEEK has always believed that journalism is about more than just reporting the news. It is about creating platforms where ideas are exchanged and where conversations lead to meaningful action, he said.
“A trillion-dollar economy is not merely a statistic or an economic milestone. It represents a vision of Maharashtra as more prosperous, more innovative, more globally competitive, and most importantly more inclusive. Maharashtra has always been India's economic powerhouse. It's India's financial capital; it's home to the world-class manufacturing, vibrant ports, a vibrant startup ecosystem, globally recommended educational institutions, and an unparalleled cultural heritage,” said Mathew.
He said the event was structured around three key themes that are central to Maharashtra's growth: growth and investment, innovation and infrastructure, and sustainability and inclusive growth.
"We have the right people here to discuss these issues," he added.
