Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday outlined an ambitious roadmap linking India’s civilisational ethos with economic growth, global engagement, and industrial expansion, while addressing a forum on “Maharashtra – Accelerating Viksit Bharat.”
Fadnavis said Hinduism should be understood not merely as a religious practice but as a civilisational framework that ensured continuity for thousands of years. He noted that while many ancient civilisations disappeared over time, Bharat has sustained itself as a continuous civilisation for nearly 10,000 years. According to him, this cultural foundation has played a key role in shaping India’s values of coexistence and mutual respect.
Emphasising India’s rising global credibility, the Chief Minister announced plans to establish a 54-storey African Centre in Navi Mumbai, which will host representative offices of all African nations under one roof. He said Africa is poised for a major demographic and economic expansion, making deeper engagement strategically important for India.
Fadnavis highlighted that many nations increasingly see India as a trusted development partner. Citing international examples, he said several countries prefer India’s involvement in strategic sectors over other global powers because India does not impose economic dominance and believes in equal partnerships.
Linking this trust to India’s philosophical roots, Fadnavis said the country’s global acceptance stems from its civilisational values, which focus on spreading ideas rather than conquest. He added that India’s approach has strengthened its diplomatic and economic footprint worldwide.
During the forum, Swami Vigyananand, founder of the World Hindu Economic Forum, stressed that cultural strength must be matched by economic power. He identified key challenges facing India’s wealth creation, including limited access to affordable capital, gaps in technology adoption, shortage of skilled manpower, and capital flight. He also argued that Indian business communities need greater social respect to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation.
JSW Group Chairman Sajjan Jindal underlined the need to strengthen India’s manufacturing base, noting that services dominate over 60 percent of the economy while manufacturing remains below 15 percent. He said India’s young population is globally aware and entrepreneurial, and manufacturing growth is essential to fully harness this potential.
Jindal also confirmed that JSW Group is moving forward on investment commitments worth ₹3 lakh crore made in Maharashtra, stating that execution has begun across all proposed projects.
On the opening day of the two-day forum, Shree Cement Managing Director Hari Mohan Bangur further boosted investor confidence by submitting a Letter of Intent to invest ₹10,000 crore in Maharashtra, reinforcing the state’s position as a key industrial growth hub.
