Nagpur: Vidarbha made a decisive pitch for global investments as the three-day Advantage Vidarbha Khasdar Audyogik Mahotsav concluded on Sunday, securing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and Letters of Intent (LoIs) worth close to Rs 45,000 crore. The landmark conclave marked the region’s largest-ever international industrial engagement.
Hosted at the Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University campus, the event attracted ambassadors from 23 countries, senior diplomats, multinational industry leaders and top policy-makers, placing Vidarbha firmly on the global investment map.
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Organised by the Association for Industrial Development (AID), the summit brought together stakeholders from all 11 districts of Vidarbha. It featured 350 exhibition stalls, including 100 from MSMEs, alongside 25 thematic sessions with 225 speakers. More than 7,500 delegates attended the event, while 55 structured trade meetings were held with foreign missions and global business representatives.
Addressing the valedictory session, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said the conclave had given Vidarbha unprecedented international visibility. He expressed satisfaction over the scale of foreign participation and the investment commitments generated during the three-day event.
Stressing the urgency of industrial growth, Gadkari said Vidarbha’s progress was critical to resolving long-standing socio-economic distress. “Nearly 10,000 farmer suicides and over 2,500 child deaths due to malnutrition in Melghat reflect the gravity of the situation. Industrialisation is not an option but a necessity, it will strengthen agriculture, create jobs and enhance purchasing power,” he said.
Highlighting the region’s resource advantage, Gadkari said Vidarbha is rich in coal, manganese and high-grade iron ore, with Gadchiroli’s deposits containing over 65 per cent iron content. “The region once associated with Naxalism has the potential to emerge as one of the world’s major steel hubs,” he said, while underlining the importance of balancing growth with environmental protection, given that nearly 70 per cent of Vidarbha is forested.
He said forest-based industries centred on bamboo are being planned to ensure sustainable development. On tourism, Gadkari noted that Nagpur has evolved into the gateway to the ‘tiger capital’, with around 350 tigers inhabiting reserves within a three-hour radius. While wildlife tourism has boosted the economy, he acknowledged rising human-animal conflict and said long-term solutions, including tiger sterilisation, would be explored.
Tourism diversification plans include developing Ambhora as a hub for water sports, adventure tourism and skydiving, along with a world-class musical fountain project.
On infrastructure, Gadkari said Nagpur is gearing up for future growth, with the metro entering its third phase. The network will be extended to Butibori, Kanhan and Koradi, for which Detailed Project Reports are under preparation.
He also announced that work orders have been issued for a 135-seater ultra-modern articulated electric bus, being developed in collaboration with the Tata Group. The high-speed bus is designed for operations on the city’s Ring Road.
Further announcements included the expansion of MIHAN through the acquisition of an additional 10,000 acres and the rollout of a piped gas supply across Nagpur within the next three years. Gadkari added that Vidarbha has already emerged as a key medical and education hub, further enhancing its attractiveness for investors.
Union Minister of State for MSME Shobha Karandlaje, who also addressed the gathering, praised AID for reshaping Vidarbha’s industrial ecosystem. She said the participation of 100 MSMEs at the exhibition underscored the growing strength of grassroots entrepreneurship. Noting that over 33 crore entrepreneurs are registered on the MSME portal nationwide, she said the sector contributes nearly 45 per cent of India’s exports.
Karandlaje said the Centre is focusing on skill development to prepare youth for emerging technologies. Referring to the Union Budget 2026, she said subsidy mechanisms have been simplified, while urging manufacturers to focus on branding, marketing and export-quality production.
Earlier, Karandlaje felicitated Mayor Neeta Thakre and Deputy Mayor Leela Hatibed, while Gadkari honoured BJP leader Narendra Borkar. Gadkari also announced that a full-time AID office will be inaugurated in May to ensure year-round engagement under the Advantage Vidarbha initiative. He advised AID to identify 25 priority industrial sectors for focused development.
Major Investments Announced
Several high-value MoUs and investment commitments were signed during the conclave:
• Learn Coach signed an MoU with the Learning School of Technology under AID.
• Sunil Ferro & Engineering Pvt Ltd announced an investment of Rs 5,000 crore, expected to generate around 1,500 direct and indirect jobs.
• Aroha Hospitality signed an MoU with Mahindra Signature to develop a five-star resort in Tadoba.
• Prashant Ugemuge of VIPL committed Rs 1,200 crore in collaboration with NMRDA.
• Greta Energy Limited, led by Anup Goyal, announced an investment of Rs 2,000 crore.
