Vilasrao heads Hollywood on weekend ‘official visit’

Deshmukh, accompanied by a team of bureaucrats and industry representatives, will tour the US between June 19 to July 2, said one of his officials, ‘‘to market Maharashtra as an investment destination’’. He is to visit Universal Studios on Saturday, June 25, and

Sunday, June 26. The official communique said he will study ‘‘opportunities for development of film industry in Mumbai’’, and see how Hollywood and Bollywood can cooperate.

‘‘I really wonder if anyone will be available there to talk business with us on a weekend,’’ said a member of the delegation.

On June 27, Deshmukh will visit the headquarters of Boeing, in a bid to convince the aviation giant to start facilities in Maharashtra.

‘‘Since they are selling a huge number of planes to Indian aviation companies, we will try to sell Maharashtra as a destination to set up a facility for sale-related activity like maintenance of aircraft,’’ an official said. The delegation will also meet officials from Atlanta-based Delta Airways.

Meanwhile, Opposition leader Nitin Gadkari today said the Chief Minister should have set his house in order before seeking investment abroad.

‘‘It will be better if Deshmukh finds a solution to the load shedding problem because of which the industries in Maharashtra are shifting to other states,’’ he said.