The Maharashtra government on Tuesday introduced a bill to empower Maharashtra Industry, Trade and Investment Facilitation Cell (MAITRI) with additional powers in order to effectively function as a single-window system to facilitate investments in the state. A single-window system is a facility that allows parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardised information and documents with a single entry point to facilitate all import and export. As per the bill presented by Industries Minister Uday Samant, establishment of a robust single-window system brings in multiple benefits, creation of an investor and entrepreneur-first environment in the state, which not only drives the economy but also helps create jobs across a variety of sectors, apart from ensuring the state becomes a preferred destination for domestic and foreign investments. A similar bill was passed in the legislative assembly on March 3, 2023 and transmitted to the legislative council. “As the government considered it necessary to make certain modifications in the said bill, it was withdrawn from the Maharashtra Legislative council on March 13, 2023. Accordingly, necessary changes have been made,” said the statement of objects and reasons of the bill. The new bill provides that the MAITRI shall be the nodal agency for the single window system in the state. It proposes the constitution of the empowered committee consisting of development commissioner (Industries) as a chairman to supervise the work of MAITRI, decide and dispose of applications which are not disposed of by the competent authorities within specified time limits, to resolve grievances of applicants, etc. It also proposes for the constitution of the supervisory committee consisting of the secretary (Industries) as a chairman to examine the proposal referred by the empowered committee, to give directions on any issues regarding ease of doing business and making policy recommendations to the concerned authorities etc. It also proposes that inspections under the provisions of relevant laws by competent authorities, shall as far as practicable be conducted jointly. It also proposes designing and developing of a comprehensive Online Wizard Module to assist the entrepreneur or investor in setting up industries in the state.
