Maharashtra has been the Leader on industrial front of India. It has always been the endeavour to develop sustaining industrial growth, facilitate speedier flow of investment by creating conducive industrial climate in the State. Maharashtra has developed a solid base of industrial infrastructure, strong Human Resources, and sustaining and diverse industrial base. This was possible because Maharashtra pioneered several policy initiatives, since inception, in diverse fields.

The economic reforms initiated in the country in 1991 brought about a paradigm shift in the approach to economic growth, industrialization and income distribution. A number of control regimes were dismantled in the areas of industrial policy, taxation, export-imports and foreign investment. De-licensing of industry, de-reservation of the public sector, easing of competition controls, reduction of import tariffs, deregulation of interest rates, and opening up of capital markets were among the reforms undertaken to encourage investment and capital formation.

The Industrial Policy of Maharashtra 1993 mainly aimed at simplification of procedures and rationalization of rules and the Industry, Trade & Commerce Policy 1995 aimed at empowering people at all levels with special focus on infrastructure development with private sector participation. A comprehensive Information Technology Policy was announced in 1998, keeping in view the importance of the IT sector for employment generation, and its implications for industry and trade, the financial sector, media and entertainment, and health, education and research.