Czech companies should not stop at selling products in the Indian market. They should set up manufacturing plants in Maharashtra, invest here and build long-term partnerships through technology exchange, Protocol Minister Jaykumar Rawal urged.
He was speaking at a meeting of industry representatives from India and the Czech Republic, organised by CII at the Taj President Hotel. Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister Karel Havlíček was present.
Rawal said that if the Czech Republic's strengths in engineering, vehicle manufacturing, the space industry, advanced machinery, robotics and scientific research were linked with Maharashtra's skilled workforce and infrastructure, industrial cooperation between the two countries could get a major boost. Under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra has emerged as a state playing an important role in the country's economic development, he said. He noted that Maharashtra accounts for about 40% of India's gross domestic product. In 2024-25, about 39% of India's total foreign direct investment came to the state.
Mumbai is the country's financial and commercial hub. Pune is a major centre for vehicle manufacturing, engineering and technology, while Nashik offers opportunities in manufacturing, the space industry and agriculture. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and other industrial centres in the state are also seeing manufacturing expand. Rawal asked Czech companies to take advantage of this industrial capacity.
Opportunities in modern technology, vehicle manufacturing and defence
Vehicle manufacturing, engineering, industrial automation, electric vehicle production, space-related manufacturing and the defence supply chain offer big opportunities for cooperation between the two countries. The state is focusing on research, innovation and high-skill job creation. Rawal urged Czech companies to work with Maharashtra in artificial intelligence, robotics, cyber security and laser technology.
Rawal said there is potential for cooperation in eco-friendly technology, recycling, waste management, energy efficiency, agriculture and food processing, packaging technology, modern construction, architecture and smart building solutions. Such partnerships can raise productivity, add value and create new opportunities for farmers and industries. Appealing to Czech industries to invest in Maharashtra and contribute to local production and technology development, he expressed confidence that the India-EU free trade agreement would open new avenues for economic cooperation.
We will use India's industrial and technological opportunities: Karel Havlíček
Havlíček praised India's development and the progress it has made over the last few decades. He said a Czech delegation is in India to study the country's political, economic and technological strength. The delegation is visiting major centres such as Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai to look for opportunities for cooperation.
The Czech Republic, he said, is a country with industrial and technological capacity. Its universities, research and development system and value-added production economy are its key strengths. With the India-EU free trade agreement, trade and economic cooperation could grow, as it connects to a market of more than two billion people. The Czech Republic wants to strengthen its industrial ties with India, he said. He hoped the meeting would boost trade, investment, technology transfer and industrial partnership.
The India-Czech economic partnership is entering a new phase built on joint production, co-development, technology partnership and innovation. Western India's diverse industrial ecosystem, including Maharashtra, is useful for Czech industries. The Czech Republic can be an important link between Indian companies and European markets, supply chains and innovation clusters, said Vir Advani, chairman of CII's western region.
Several industry groups signed mutual agreements on the occasion.