Mumbai and New York share many features as global metropolises. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the partnership with Bloomberg will be vital for the sustainable and rapid development of Mumbai and the whole of Maharashtra, and will give the state a new direction. He said the partnership would be transformative and historic. In Mumbai, the country's financial, business and entertainment capital, Fadnavis welcomed Bloomberg founder Michael Bloomberg and praised his contribution.
A high-level meeting between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Michael Bloomberg was held at The St. Regis hotel in Mumbai. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, the Chief Minister's investment adviser Kaustubh Dhavse and several industry leaders were present.
Boost to research and technology in Maharashtra Speaking during the meeting, the Chief Minister said, "Bloomberg has completed 30 years of work in India, and Maharashtra's place in this long journey has been exceptional. Bloomberg's Indian headquarters is in Mumbai, and the company has important offices in Pune too. That is a matter of pride for the state. In Pune in particular, experts in research, development (R&D) and engineering are working to build Bloomberg Terminals of global standard."
Recalling old memories with Michael Bloomberg, the Chief Minister said his first meeting with him in 2014 and his visit to Bloomberg's office in New York in 2018 remain fresh in his mind. That conversation, he said, was a rich learning experience for administration and development.
Boost to road safety and health collaboration The partnership between the Maharashtra government and Bloomberg is running not only commercial but also public-welfare projects. These include: Road safety improvement initiatives Health Information Systems The Healthy Cities campaign Data-based reforms in administration
These projects are being run in Mumbai, Pune and Nashik. The Chief Minister thanked Bloomberg for its continued support.
Metro target of 350 km by 2029-30 Speaking about urban transport, Chief Minister Fadnavis said, "Once Mumbai's metro network was only 11 kilometres long. Today, a massive metro network of about 350 kilometres is being developed. Of this, 100 kilometres of routes are already open to passengers, and another 70 kilometres are planned to open by next year. The government aims to make the entire 350-km metro network fully operational by 2029-30."
Under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, modern public transport systems are coming up in cities across the country, and metro expansion is moving fast in Pune too. The Chief Minister stressed that encouraging public transport use in Tier-2 cities brings positive changes in people's living standards and behaviour.
Pride in social commitment alongside business: Michael Bloomberg Praising Maharashtra's economic strength, Michael Bloomberg said, "Maharashtra is a very important economic centre for India. We are delighted that our journey, which began in a small shared space in India, has completed 30 years. Our main office stands proudly in Mumbai today, and investment in the country keeps growing. More than 100 engineers work in Pune, and this centre will be expanded in future."
Going further, he made clear that Bloomberg's commitment to India is not limited to business. For the past 20 years, the company has carried out social initiatives in public health, sanitation, road safety and clean energy. He also expressed confidence that the company will remain committed to creating technology and products useful to the people of Maharashtra.