THE second day of COMP-EX’ 2026, Central India’s flagship IT exhibition, was marked by the visit of Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, who addressed a packed audience comprising IT professionals, entrepreneurs, MSMEs, startups, students, and industry leaders. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister highlighted Maharashtra’s remarkable progress on the technology front and proudly stated that the State has emerged as India’s No. 1 destination for data centres, with nearly 60% of the country’s data centres now located in Maharashtra. He emphasised that focused policies, strong infrastructure, digital governance, and investor-friendly reforms have made Maharashtra a preferred hub for global technology investments.

 

The Chief Minister appreciated the sustained efforts of VCMDWA in organising COMP-EX over the years and advised the association to take COMP-EX from a national-level exhibition to a truly global platform. He encouraged VCMDWA members to conceptualise and organise technology-driven events that can attract investments, generate employment, and accelerate economic growth in the Vidarbha region, particularly benefitting Nagpur and surrounding districts.

 

Earlier, welcoming the Chief Minister, VCMDWA President Dinesh Naidu expressed pride on his repeated visits to COMP-EX and acknowledged his consistent support for technology, innovation, and MSME growth. He stated that, under the CM’s leadership, Maharashtra had made giant strides in IT investments, startup ecosystem development, digital public services, AI adoption, smart cities, and infrastructure expansion, ensuring that the benefits of technology reach Tier-2 cities like Nagpur along with major metros. Naidu further remarked that COMP-EX mirrors the State Government’s vision of inclusive digital growth. He said that, the Chief Minister’s guidance and encouragement continue to inspire VCMDWA members to think bigger and work towards positioning Vidarbha as an emerging technology and innovation hub.