New South Wales and Maharashtra have renewed their long-standing sister-state partnership, with the two governments seeking to deepen cooperation across trade, investment, technology, clean energy, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing and education.
NSW Premier Chris Minns met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai on Wednesday, where the two leaders signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding to extend and broaden the relationship between the Australian state and one of India’s leading economic centres.
The renewed agreement provides a framework for governments, businesses, universities, research organisations and other institutions in both regions to develop new partnerships and pursue commercial opportunities across industries identified as priorities by both sides.
For NSW, Maharashtra represents an important market within India’s rapidly expanding economy. The renewed partnership is also aligned with the NSW Trade and Investment Strategy 2035, which aims to strengthen the state’s international economic relationships and create new opportunities for businesses and investors.
Premier Chris Minns said the relationship between NSW and Maharashtra had already developed a strong foundation over more than a decade, but there was scope to turn those existing connections into greater economic benefits.
“NSW and Maharashtra have built a strong relationship over more than a decade, and today we agreed there’s an opportunity to do much more together,” Mr Minns said.
The Premier pointed to several sectors where the two states share ambitions for future growth, including technology, clean energy, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing and education.
“We share ambitions in some of the industries that will shape the next generation of jobs in technology, clean energy, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing and education,” he said.
The renewed agreement builds on years of cooperation between NSW and Maharashtra. Previous collaboration has included vocational education initiatives, water management projects, cultural exchanges and business engagement, providing an established platform for the next phase of the relationship.
The focus now is on expanding that cooperation into areas with the potential to generate investment, create jobs and support innovation. The agreement is intended to make it easier for organisations in both regions to identify opportunities and develop practical partnerships.
NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said India was among the state’s most important economic partners, while Maharashtra’s position as a major business and investment centre made it particularly significant to NSW’s engagement with the country.
“Renewing this agreement will help strengthen commercial links and create opportunities across sectors including technology, critical minerals, clean energy, education and advanced industries,” Mr Mookhey said.
He also highlighted the importance of the people-to-people relationship between NSW and India, describing those connections as a major foundation for continued growth.
The partnership comes as NSW looks to expand its engagement with India beyond traditional trade relationships. Areas such as advanced technology, clean energy and critical minerals are becoming increasingly important as both economies look for new investment and innovation opportunities.
Maharashtra is India’s second-most populous state and is home to Mumbai, one of the country’s major financial and commercial centres. Its large business ecosystem and growing technology and manufacturing sectors make it an important partner for NSW companies seeking to establish or expand their presence in India.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the renewed agreement represented an opportunity to take the relationship into a more ambitious phase.
“Maharashtra and New South Wales have built a strong partnership over more than a decade. Today, we are renewing it with greater ambition for the future,” Mr Fadnavis said.
He identified technology, clean energy, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing and education as areas where Maharashtra and NSW could work more closely.
The Maharashtra Chief Minister also emphasised the importance of delivering practical outcomes from the renewed partnership, including increased investment, stronger links between businesses and institutions, and new opportunities for people in both regions.
The agreement therefore extends beyond a government-to-government relationship, with its success expected to depend on greater participation from businesses, educational institutions, researchers and other organisations.
For NSW, the renewed Maharashtra partnership also complements the state’s broader push to strengthen economic ties with India. With strong Indian communities across NSW and established links in education, business and professional services, the relationship has both commercial and people-to-people dimensions.
The renewed MoU provides the two states with a platform to build on those connections while focusing on industries expected to play an important role in future economic growth.
As NSW and Maharashtra move into the next phase of their partnership, the emphasis will be on turning the agreement into tangible projects, investment opportunities and institutional collaborations.
The renewal marks another step in a relationship that has developed over more than ten years, while setting a broader agenda for cooperation between NSW and Maharashtra in the years ahead.
