Fadnavis invites ICC to help draft policy to make Maharashtra global chemicals hub

MUMBAI: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday invited the Indian Chemical Council (ICC) to work with the state government to frame a comprehensive policy aimed at positioning Maharashtra as a global chemicals manufacturing hub.Addressing a CEO roundtable organised by the ICC during the India Chemical Industry Outlook Conference in Mumbai, Fadnavis interacted with more than 100 chief executives from Indian and multinational chemical and petrochemical companies and outlined the state’s vision for expanding the sector.Fadnavis said the chemicals industry plays a significant role in Maharashtra’s industrial economy and that the state’s growth continues to be driven by its strong manufacturing base. He reiterated the government’s focus on policy-led growth, improving the ease and cost of doing business, and speeding up environmental clearances to attract fresh investments in the sector. “As an outcome of this CEO roundtable, I invite the Indian Chemical Council to work with the Government of Maharashtra to formulate a policy for the chemical industry that defines the sector’s future in the state, including the type of parks, infrastructure and investments we need to create,” Fadnavis said.He also emphasised the need to build a future-ready workforce through stronger industry–academia collaboration with institutions such as the Institute of Chemical Technology and other technical institutes and ITIs. The chief minister said MSMEs would play a crucial role in the sector’s expansion and indicated that the state was willing to partner with industry to develop new chemical hubs equipped with plug-and-play infrastructure.The roundtable featured a presentation by McKinsey & Company on the strategic importance of the chemicals sector to India’s economy. Eminent chemical engineer M. M. Sharma also shared insights on the industry’s future.Industry leaders who participated in the discussion included Ramya Bharathram, president of the ICC and CFO of Thirumalai Chemicals; Samir Somaiya of Godavari Biorefineries; Jayant Dhobley of Aditya Birla Group; Bimal Goculdas of DMCC Speciality Chemicals; Ravi Goenka of Laxmi Organic Industries; Rajendra V. Gogri of Aarti Industries; and Alexander Gerding of BASF India.Industry representatives said India’s chemical sector is at a strategic inflection point with the potential to expand its presence in global value chains. Discussions during the roundtable focused on policy stability, infrastructure development, feedstock security, research and innovation, and closer industry–government collaboration to unlock growth.“Platforms like the CEO roundtable enable meaningful dialogue between policymakers and industry leaders, helping shape a shared roadmap for the future of the chemical sector,” Bharathram said.The annual conference organised by the ICC brings together policymakers, global CEOs, technology providers and industry experts to discuss trends, supply chains and opportunities in the chemicals industry. Industry executives said the interaction with the state government could help strengthen India’s global competitiveness in chemicals while promoting sustainable manufacturing and resilient supply chains.