The Vidarbha Industries Association (VIA) on Saturday celebrated its 63rd Foundation Day at Hotel Centre Point with great fanfare in the presence of entrepreneurs, professionals, Government officials, and other dignitaries. Addressing the gathering, Prashant Mohota, President of VIA, highlighted that nearly sixty-three years ago, visionary leaders came together to give Vidarbha’s industry a strong and united voice. “Today, VIA stands proud as Vidarbha enters a new phase of industrial growth. Maharashtra is pursuing a bold vision of becoming a trillion-dollar economy, supported by progressive industrial, textile, electronics, and food-processing policies. Vidarbha is increasingly at the center of this growth,” he said. Mohota further highlighted that in the last 20 months, 96 large and mega projects - representing proposed investments of over Rs 8.4 lakh crore and expected to create more than 2.6 lakh jobs - have been approved in the region. “Gadchiroli is emerging as a major steel hub, while Nagpur is developing into a center for solar energy, batteries, EVs, semiconductors, rare-earth magnets, drones, aerospace, and defense.

 

This growth creates significant opportunities for VIA members as suppliers, fabricators, service providers, logistics partners, skilled professionals, and ancillary industries,” he added. At the outset, office-bearers of the association felicitated Dr M K Sharma, Whole Time Director and CEO, and Rohit Bajaj, CMD of Bajaj Steel Industries Ltd.; Prem Bhonge, Managing Director of Canex Techno Pvt. Ltd.; Anish Chhajed, Partner at Mahalaxmi Infra; and CA Amar Agrawal, Founder of Nakshatra Capital, for supporting the event. Recognized for overall performance, programme quality, innovation, member engagement, and contributions to VIA’s objectives, two VIA forums received the ‘Best Forum of the Year Award for 2025–26’:- the first position went to the VIA Lady Entrepreneurs’ Wing, and the 2nd position was awarded to the VIA Agro Rural Development & Food Processing Forum. In addition, VIA recognised its ‘Most Active Members of the Year 2025–26’. The first award was presented to Ravi Burde, Director of Vimal Gruh Udyog, while the second went to Eva Puri, Director of Foodverse Global Pvt. Ltd. VIA’s revamped website was also unveiled during the event. Pankaj Bakshi, Project Director of the event, conducted the proceedings. Kaushal Mohta, Secretary of VIA, proposed the formal vote of thanks.