Maharashtra to set up 54 storey African Centre in Navi Mumbai: Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra will set up a 54 storey African centre in Navi Mumbai that will house on each floor the representative offices of every country in that continent, said Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Inaugurating the two-day World Hindu Economic Forum (WHEF) in Mumbai today, he said Africa will be the next global growth region and that co-creating economical and technological solutions with African nations can help shape a new global economic order, with India playing a leading role. Africa has strategic and natural resources required for future and frontier technologies. India’s long-standing trust-based relationship with nations in Africa and other parts of the global south places it in a strong position to deepen economic and institutional cooperation.

Sajjan Jindal, Chairman, JSW Group said India can truly become strong only by becoming a manufacturing powerhouse. Over the years, the share of manufacturing in our economy has declined, and reversing this is critical for Atmanirbhar Bharat. With a young skilled population, supportive leadership, and long-term investment, India has the capacity to manufacture not just for itself, but for the world. “From steel and electric mobility to defence and electronics, strong domestic manufacturing will create jobs, strengthen the economy and position India as a global production house", he said.

The two-day event brings together senior policy makers, industry leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs.

  The WHEF was started in 2012 in Hong Kong, followed by annual forums in Bangkok, New Delhi, London, Los Angeles, Chicago and Mumbai and the most recent one in Adelaide in 2025. Additionally, there were several regional economic forums held in Kuala Lumpur, Auckland, Fiji, Durban, Kenya, Frankfurt, and Dallas, said the organisers.