These sectors include software, electronics, food processing, textiles and readymade garments, gems and jwellery, chemicals, automobiles and automobile ancilliaries, metals and pharmaceuticals.

A study conducted by the state industries department said that efforts will be made to maintain the state's position as a `powerhouse' in the country.

Emphasis has been laid on development of the software and information technology industry to face competition from the neighbouring states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The study says Maharashtra will become the leader in both electronic software production and exports by 2001-02. Turnover is expected to touch Rs 15,500 crore, while the exports will cross the Rs 11,500-crore mark.

The state's software exports account for Rs 3,500 crore of the total Rs6,500 crore in 1997-98. The study says, in view of newly announced IT policy and various initiatives by the government, Maharashtra will become a most favoured state on the IT front in particular and other sectors in general.

Maharashtra will maintain its leading position in the production of consumer electronics with more than 850 units functioning in the state. Of the total production of Rs 5,000 crore, Mumbai's contribution was Rs 2,500 crore, Pune - Rs 889 crore, Aurangabad - Rs 470 crore, Thane - Rs 250 crore and Malegaon - Rs 162 crore.

On readymade garments, the study says that production will increase to 3,759 million units in 1999-2000 from 3,295 million units in 1998-99 while the state will export 759 million units. Maharashtra ranks second after Tamil Nadu in the production of spun thread while it is also second after Rajasthan in the production of blended threads. However, Maharashtra continues to be the leader in cloth produced by powerlooms situated in Bhiwandi, Ichalkaranji, Malegaon andSolapur.

The study forecasts various opportunities in attracting private sector investment in gems and jwellery. The government has decided to provide necessary incentives at the proposed diamond complex at the Bandra-Kurla complex in north-west Mumbai.

Although, Maharashtra has lost the Sterlite and Hindustan Oman Petrochemicals projects in Ratnagiri district, the study says, the state has an untapped potential to encourage chemical industries.

Moreover, Maharashtra, despite losing the Ford and Hyundai projects to Chennai, holds a tremendous potential for the the automobile industry and its ancilliaries. The government will develop an auto-components park at Talegaon near Pune, while Italian car major Fiat has started construction work at Ranjangaon to set up its base.