Maharashtra will release a dedicated chemical industry policy in the first week of November, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Thursday, October 22, at the inauguration of India Chem 2026 in Mumbai. He said the state government is finalising the policy, whose central feature is a large chemical industrial hub in the Vadhavan Port region of Palghar district.
Fadnavis said Maharashtra already hosts nearly 3,600 chemical industrial units, contributing 19 per cent to India's gross value added (GVA) in the chemical sector and 17 per cent to national chemical exports. The sector currently generates around 3 lakh jobs in the state — yaani about 300,000 jobs — and, according to the Chief Minister, the new policy framework has the capacity to double employment opportunities.
The forthcoming policy is designed to align with evolving industrial demands and create a more investor-friendly regulatory environment, reports said. Fadnavis highlighted the state's single-window clearance platforms, saying: 'Through single-window platforms like Maitri and Invest Maharashtra, the state ensures seamless clearances and investor support.'
Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister J.P. Nadda, who also addressed the event, said India's chemical industry currently stands at around $220 billion, with ambitions to scale to $1 trillion by 2040 and $1.6 trillion by 2047. He said the Centre is providing assistance of up to Rs 1,000 crore per park under the Bulk Drug Park scheme, requiring a minimum state contribution of Rs 500 crore, and that advanced chemicals have been integrated into the Centre's Rs 1 lakh crore research and development and innovation fund — yaani Rs 100,000 crore.
Other chief ministers also used the India Chem platform to pitch their states. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav highlighted a Rs 50,000 crore petrochemical project in Bina and plans for plastic and gas-based parks, while Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi outlined a shift from a mineral-based economy toward a chemical-industrial economy using coastal ports for green hydrogen, petrochemical and fertiliser investments, according to reports of the event.
Nadda also stressed industrial safety, responsible handling of hazardous materials, worker training, reducing carbon emissions and expanding plastic recycling infrastructure, reports said. The Maharashtra policy's release in the first week of November will be the next test of how the proposed Palghar hub and the state's wider chemical plans move from announcement to implementation.