Mumbai: Maharashtra’s rise as India’s growth engine is driven not by incentives, but by confidence—confidence in leadership, policy stability and execution, said Jaykumar Rawal, Minister of Protocol, Agro Marketing, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Diaspora Outreach, Government of Maharashtra, while addressing the CII Mumbai International Summit 2025.
Describing Mumbai as a rare global city where capital, talent and ambition converge seamlessly, Rawal said the city does not wait for the future—it accelerates it. “Mumbai confidently invites the world to keep pace with its growth,” he noted, underlining the city’s role as a gateway for global trade, innovation and sustainable development.
The summit brought together global business leaders, policymakers, diplomats and industry captains to deliberate on Mumbai’s expanding role as an international economic and innovation hub.
Calling Mumbai an idea as much as a city, Rishi Kumar Bagla, Chairman, CII Western Region, said Mumbai symbolises ambition and reinvention. As India’s financial and commercial capital evolves into a global gateway, he stressed that businesses must move beyond growth alone to deliver purpose, sustainability and long-term societal value.
Echoing this view, Vir S Advani, Deputy Chairman, CII Western Region, said Mumbai will play a central role in India’s journey towards becoming a multi-trillion-dollar economy. He urged industry to lead with vision, sustained investment and responsible leadership to unlock the next phase of growth.
Highlighting the city’s rapid transformation, Vaibhav Vohra, Chairman, CII Mumbai International Summit 2025, pointed to landmark infrastructure projects such as the Navi Mumbai International Airport, new link roads and world-class expressways. He said that amid climate action, digital and green transitions, and shifting geopolitics, Mumbai is positioning itself not just as an economic centre but as a platform for global solutions.
Emphasising the growing global role of cities, José Mauro da Fonseca Costa Couto, Consul General Designate of Brazil in Mumbai, observed that cities like Mumbai are emerging as global actors—driving innovation, trade, cultural exchange and sustainable development through international partnerships.
Reflecting on the international economic landscape, Harjinder Singh Kang, HM Trade Commissioner to South Asia and British Deputy High Commissioner to Western India, said India–UK relations are at their strongest in decades. He described the recently concluded future-ready Free Trade Agreement as a milestone built on shared ambition and trust, with Mumbai at the heart of this expanding partnership.
The CII Mumbai International Summit 2025 reaffirmed Mumbai’s position as India’s most globally connected city—integrating infrastructure, policy confidence, industry leadership and international collaboration to shape the future of global growth and sustainability.
