CII has expressed its desire to collect data in this regard and project/market Maharashtra state at the international levels.

Newly-appointed CII president Arun Bharat Ram, who held meeting with the state chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Tuesday, told reporters that the Democratic Front government has confirmed its desire to sign a memorandum of understanding whose draft has been prepared. Ram informed that CII has already signed similar MoUs with the West bengal and Karnataka in the past.

Ram said that Deshmukh has also agreed to chair a national task force based in Mumbai for the development of a vision statement for the state and outline a strategy for realising it. The task force would also comprise the CII's immediate past chairman (western region) Baba Kalyana.

Deshmukh has also agreed to examine CII's proposals on developing Mumbai as an ofshore financial centre and setting up of special exonomic zones in the state.

Ram said that the proposed task force would not only facilitate working of various critical issues but also help find a workable solution to other needs of Mumbai city such as world class exhibition and convention centre and international airport.

Ram during his meeting with the deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal discussed issues related to state labour laws, privatisation of state undertakings, abolition of the urban land ceiling act and exemption of electricity duty on captive power plants.