A 20,000 sq ft Skill Development Centre is set to be established at the Aurangabad Industrial City (AURIC) in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) expected to be signed next week, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry said on Sunday.
This was endorsed by the Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Amardeep Singh Bhatia, during his visit to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar on Saturday to review the progress of industrial infrastructure and startup development in the region.
The Secretary emphasised the need to attract Global Capability Centre (GCC) investments and foster the development of Research & Development (R&D) centres at AURIC to further enhance the region’s innovation and industrial ecosystem.
Stakeholders also recommended the convergence of PMAY 2.0 subsidies with state housing policies to offer a comprehensive package for inclusive residential development, thereby supporting the growth of a well-rounded industrial township.
The Secretary also held an industry interaction session, witnessing participation from key stakeholders, including industry bodies including MASSIA, CMIA, CII, FICCI, and ASSOCHAM.
During the discussion, stakeholders suggested measures such as improved connectivity between Aurangabad–Hyderabad–Chennai, development of an MRO facility and Vande Bharat terminal, better logistics access at Bidkin, local train services between Jalna and Waluj, affordable housing by MHADA, and a dedicated chemical zone.
Recommendations also included increasing MSME land reservation from 10 per cent to 40 per cent, reserving 10 per cent of land for startups, and strengthening soft infrastructure and skill development at AURIC.
Further, Dr P Anbalagan, Secretary, Industries Department, Government of Maharashtra, also presented the state’s strategic vision for industrial growth through initiatives like MITL and MMLP.
The Commerce Secretary also engaged with budding entrepreneurs, incubators, and startup founders from the region.
He appreciated their innovative spirit and highlighted the Government’s strong support through initiatives like Startup India, Fund of Funds, and sector-specific incentives aimed at boosting the startup ecosystem, especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.