Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis highlighted the chemical sector’s significant contribution to the state’s industrial economy, noting that Maharashtra’s growth is strongly driven by its manufacturing base. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to policy-led growth, improving ease and cost of doing business, and accelerating environmental clearances.

Emphasising the importance of talent development, he called for stronger industry-academia collaboration with institutions such as ICT, LIT and ITIs to build a future-ready workforce. He also underscored the role of MSMEs in the sector’s growth and expressed the government’s willingness to work with industry to develop new chemical hubs with plug-and-play infrastructure to support future expansion.

“As an outcome of this CEO Roundtable, I invite the Indian Chemical Council to work with the Government of Maharashtra to formulate a policy for the chemical industry that defines the sector’s future in the state, including the type of parks, infrastructure and investments we need to create,” said Fadnavis while addressing the CEO Roundtable at the Indian Chemical Council’s 19th edition of Chemical Industry Outlook Conference. The Roundtable witnessed the presence of as many as 100 CEOs from the chemicals and petrochemicals industry.

At the CEOs Roundtable, McKinsey & Company, the knowledge partners of the conference, made a detailed presentation on the Criticality of Chemicals Industry to India. Valuable points were made by Padma Vibhushan Prof. M. M. Sharma, Emeritus Professor of Eminence, Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai. Ramya Bharathram, President, ICC & CFO, Thirumalai Chemicals, delivered opening remarks and set stage for the discussions. Samir Somaiya, Vice President, ICC & CMD, Godavari Biorefineries and Jayant Dhobley, Addl Vice President, ICC & CEO, Global Chemicals, Aditya Birla Group, moderated the deliberations between Chief Minister and the CEOs.

Other speakers included Bimal Goculdas, MD & CEO, DMCC Speciality Chemicals Ltd; Ravi Goenka, Executive Chairman & Whole-Time Director, Laxmi Organic Industries Ltd; Rajendra V. Gogri, Chairman & Managing Director, Aarti Industries Ltd.; and Alexander Gerding, MD, BASF India Limited, Head of BASF Group Companies in India.

Industry leaders have highlighted that India's chemical sector is at a pivotal, strategic turning point, offering a significant opportunity to expand its role in global value chains. To fully unlock this growth potential, discussions emphasized the need for policy stability, infrastructure development, enhanced feedstock security, research-driven innovation, and deepened collaboration between the government and industry.

“Platforms like the CEO Roundtable enable meaningful dialogue between policymakers and industry leaders, helping shape a shared roadmap for the future of the chemical sector,” said Ramya Bharathram, President, Indian Chemical Council.

The high-level interaction focused on strengthening India’s global competitiveness in chemicals, building resilient supply chains, and accelerating the transition toward sustainable manufacturing. Senior leaders from major Indian and multinational companies participated in candid discussions on the evolving global business environment, geopolitical shifts, and opportunities for India to expand its role in global chemical value chains.

The CEO Roundtable provided an important platform for open dialogue between government leadership and global industry executives, reinforcing a shared commitment to position India—and Maharashtra in particular—as a globally competitive, sustainable, and innovation-driven chemicals manufacturing hub.