The Maharashtra Convention Bureau (MCB) is India’s first state-led initiative dedicated to supporting global conventions, exhibitions, and business events. Based in India’s financial capital, Mumbai, the convention bureau will serve as a catalyst to attract and facilitate international events, building upon the state’s global reputation as a business and tourism hub.

The initiative aligns with the key focus of the Maharashtra Tourism Policy 2024, which highlights the growing importance of business events and aims to accelerate the growth of the visitor economy across the state.

Now, Maharashtra is ready to take the lead as India’s foremost economic hub, contributing close to 15 per cent of the country’s GDP. The formation of the convention bureau is a strategic step towards expanding the country’s intellectual capital by attracting delegates, professionals, and experts from around the world to promote knowledge sharing, innovation, and industry collaboration. Its formation is a significant step in this direction, leveraging world-class infrastructure, a thriving economy, and a robust service ecosystem to establish the state as a top destination for high-impact international events. Its dynamic cities, including the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Pune, Nashik, and Nagpur, will be at the core of this movement, creating a network of interconnected locations that offer a diverse mix of venues, accommodations, and seamless transportation, all equipped to support events of every scale.

“The establishment of the Maharashtra Convention Bureau marks a transformative moment for our state’s economic and cultural landscape. Maharashtra has long been a leader in industry, education, and innovation. With the new convention bureau, we are unlocking the full potential of the business events industry to amplify that leadership on a global stage. Through strategic investment in meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions, we are creating a powerful platform for innovation, collaboration, and intellectual exchange,” says Shri Indranil Naik, Minister of State for Tourism.

“The formation of the convention bureau is a strategic step towards expanding the country’s intellectual capital”

“Furthermore, this initiative will serve as a catalyst across key sectors, from tourism and hospitality to higher education, manufacturing, and infrastructure. It will attract global thinkers, investors, and changemakers to Maharashtra, generating new opportunities for our youth, our entrepreneurs, and our communities. As Minister of State, I am proud to support this visionary step forward that will elevate Maharashtra as a premier destination not just for business, but for bold ideas and inclusive growth.”

Maharashtra Convention Bureau will play an instrumental role in promoting the state for business events by working closely with international event organisers, offering administrative assistance, and providing resources to ensure the success and impact of events. Additionally, the convention bureau will collaborate with key stakeholders, including hotels, venues, and service providers, to ease the planning process and enhance the overall experience.

The opening of the convention bureau comes on the heels of India’s G20 Presidency and its growing prominence in hosting global events, which have accentuated the country’s rise on the world stage. As Maharashtra Convention Bureau charts the direction for the state’s business events sector, Mumbai emerges as a key contributor.

The city’s infrastructure, from world-class venues like the Jio World Convention Centre (JWCC) to hospitality giants such as Hyatt, Marriott, The Taj Hotels, and The Oberoi Hotels, along with Asia’s award-winning Mumbai International Airport, has been a pivotal force in driving this transformation.

Mumbai has already showcased its prowess by hosting global events like the 21st World Congress of Accountants 2022, the G20 Sessions 2023, the 141st International Olympic Committee Session 2023, and the Miss World Grand Finale 2024 at the Jio World Convention Centre.

“The establishment of the convention bureau is a watershed moment for our nation, state and Mumbai city’s global aspirations. This initiative reflects the growing importance of business events in our economic landscape and reinforces our commitment to promoting Maharashtra as a premier destination for international conventions,” says Shi Atul Patne, IAS, Principal Secretary Tourism.

The continued efforts are poised to bring marquee international events from across geographies. Through strategic outreach and persistent efforts, Mumbai city has successfully secured future convention such as the International Baccalaureate Congress (2026), Icann Annual Conference (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), International Olympiad on Astronomy & Astrophysics (2025), Asian Seed Congress (2025), and the UIA International Forum of Architects (2027), which will all be hosted at the Jio World Convention Centre.

“This initiative will attract global thinkers, investors, and changemakers to Maharashtra, generating new opportunities”

Mumbai has also recently bid for the prestigious International Astronautical Congress in 2028. Such large-scale international events generate significant economic impact for the city, state, and country.

Maharashtra Convention Bureau highlights the following key goals:

  • Position Maharashtra as a leading global business event destination  Emphasise the bureau’s role in making the state, especially cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, and Nagpur, attractive for major international meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions.
  • Catalyse international business events  Showcase how the convention bureau aims to attract, facilitate, and support high-profile conventions and exhibitions by leveraging Maharashtra’s infrastructure, connectivity, and robust service ecosystem.
  • Drive economic growth and investment  Highlight the convention bureau’s focus on increasing business events to stimulate local economies, generate employment, and drive investments into allied sectors such as hospitality, transportation and event management.
  • Promote knowledge sharing and innovation  Illustrate the goal of expanding the state’s intellectual capital by drawing global delegates, professionals, and experts to foster knowledge exchange, innovation, and collaboration across industries.
  • Foster strategic partnerships  Efforts are being made to coordinate with hotels, venues, and service providers for seamless event planning, making Maharashtra a one-stop solution for global event organisers.
  • Boost Maharashtra’s global profile and reputation  Emphasise the aspiration to make Maharashtra synonymous with excellence in international business events, building on past successes and hosting future marquee events.
  • Encourage sustainability and responsible business events  Highlight the emphasis on promoting responsible and sustainable practices within business and event meetings, setting benchmarks for other states to follow.

These goals collectively position the Maharashtra Convention Bureau as a visionary driver of economic development, international collaboration, and industry leadership in India’s burgeoning business events sector.

A state-led convention bureau offers a range of economic benefits for Maharashtra:

  • Boosts the business events industry  By attracting international conventions, exhibitions, and business events, the convention bureau drives a surge in high-value business travellers, raising hotel occupancy, increasing spending at local restaurants, and encouraging the use of transport and supporting services.
  • Accelerates the visitor economy  Global business events promote longer stays, repeat visits, and higher per capita expenditures by delegates, which directly increases revenue across the tourism value chain, including hospitality, event management, and local attractions.
  • Catalyses investment and infrastructure development  The demand for world-class venues, accommodation, and services encourages investment in new hotels, convention centres, and public infrastructure, which have long-term benefits for the state economy and create jobs.
  • Drives knowledge-based economic gains  International gatherings in Maharashtra facilitate knowledge transfer and professional collaboration, fostering innovation and long-term partnership opportunities for local entrepreneurs, startups, and industry clusters.
  • Diversifies economic base  A thriving business events industry strengthens sectors beyond tourism, including education, manufacturing, technology, and the creative economy, thereby broadening Maharashtra’s economic foundation.
  • Enhances global reputation  Successfully hosting important global events elevates Maharashtra’s brand on the international stage, attracting further foreign investment, trade delegations, and business opportunities.
  • Creates jobs and supports local communities  The increased flow of business delegates and event organisers generates direct and indirect employment across hotels, transport, catering, media, and logistics, fuelling inclusive growth for communities statewide.