Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar is rapidly transforming into one of India’s most dynamic manufacturing hubs, driven by a rich legacy of entrepreneurship and strategic industrial growth. At the heart of this transformation is MASSIA, a powerful industry body that has played a pivotal role in attracting global investments and empowering MSMEs in the region. On the final day of his tenure as President of MASSIA, Chetan Raut reflects on the city’s journey, his contributions, and the collective vision to make Sambhaji Nagar a global manufacturing destination.
On 14th April 2025, Toyoda Gosei South India, a multinational manufacturer of automotive components, announced its expansion to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar with the launch of a new manufacturing plant. In their announcement, the company extended special thanks to the Marathwada Association of Small Scale Industries and Agriculture (MASSIA) for its support and guidance. This expansion also highlights the growing appeal of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar as a strategic industrial destination and a rising global manufacturing hub.
As Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar is progressing as a global manufacturing hub, the collective effort of local industry champions and associations like MASSIA is visible, which plays a vital role in driving investment and facilitating collaboration between global enterprises and local industries. Chetan Gajmal Raut, Director of Rajmudra Prakashan Private Limited, is the President of MASSIA, who played a prominent role in the growth of manufacturing in Marathwada. As Chetan Raut concludes his term as President of MASSIA on 17th April 2025, Machine Maker sat down for an exclusive interview to reflect on his one-year tenure and the evolution of the region’s industrial ecosystem.
MASSIA, a non-profit organisation established in 1977, is headquartered in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and represents over 1,300 MSMES in the Marathwada region. Under Raut’s leadership, MASSIA has actively worked towards strengthening the capabilities of MSMES, promoting regional development, and promoting global partnerships. His final day in office marks a leadership transition, celebrating the strides made in empowering industries and shaping the future of Indian manufacturing from the heart of Marathwada.
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar: Rising as India’s Automotive and Engineering Powerhouse
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (formerly Aurangabad), historically recognised for its industrial potential, has long held a strong position in India’s manufacturing landscape. However, over the past few decades, the city has undergone a remarkable transformation, emerging as one of the nation’s most prominent industrial hubs. “The turning point was in the 1980s when Bajaj Auto set up its operations here,” recalls Chetan Raut. “Back then, Sambhaji Nagar was the fastest developing city in Asia, and it was Bajaj Auto’s entry that triggered this rapid industrial growth.”
The arrival of Bajaj Auto created a ripple effect—numerous micro and small enterprises in the region evolved into ancillary units and suppliers to the automotive giant. “Waluji MIDC flourished because of this,” says Raut. “Many small industries that started as suppliers for Bajaj eventually grew and contributed to establishing Sambhaji Nagar MIDC and Waluji MIDC as India’s leading auto manufacturing clusters.” Today, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar plays a critical role in the global automotive supply chain.
“Parts manufactured here are now used in two-wheelers and four-wheelers around the world,” he proudly shares. The scale of the city’s export footprint speaks volumes—over 5,000 industries from various MIDCS exported goods worth ₹7,989 crore last year alone, with engineering and automobile sectors accounting for a significant 37% of that share. “Sambhaji Nagar industries export to almost 80 countries,” Raut highlights, underlining the global impact of this thriving industrial city.
Attracting Giants: MASSIA’s Push for Manufacturing-Driven MNC Investments
Attracting multinational corporations is crucial for a city like Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar to establish itself as a truly global manufacturing hub. “To achieve real development, MNCS must set up full-scale production facilities here, not just assembly lines,” emphasises Chetan Raut. “Only then will we see sustainable industrial growth.” Encouragingly, this vision is becoming a reality, with global players like Toyota, JSW, Ether Energy, and Lubrizol India marking their presence in the region.
MASSIA has been at the forefront of enabling this transformation. The association functions as a catalyst for both the expansion of existing industries and the attraction of new investments to the region. “We create momentum for growth,” says Mr Raut. One such moment was on 12th August 2020, when MASSIA organised a landmark program at its auditorium, honouring Industries Minister Uday Samant and welcoming upcoming investors, including Toyota Kirloskar Motors and JSW Green Mobility.
Following this, Toyota Gosei India, a tier-one vendor of Toyota, visited Sambhaji Nagar in September 2024 to evaluate land availability—an effort facilitated by MASSIA in collaboration with MIDC and ORIC officials. “We conducted joint discussions and shared presentations to showcase the region’s industrial potential,” he adds. MASSIA also coordinated closely with the Managing Director AURIC to help Toyota Gosei secure suitable land for their operations.
The efforts didn’t stop there. On 22nd January 2025, a MASSIA delegation visited Toyota Gosei India and Toyota Boshoku in Bangalore to understand their manufacturing systems and quality processes. “Apart from attracting investment, we felt it was important to understand their technology, build trust, and explore long-term business opportunities,” Chetan Raut highlights. MASSIA has since initiated a capacity-building and training program in alignment with Toyota’s skill requirements, working toward establishing a training facility in Sambhaji Nagar. “We’re preparing our workforce to match their expectations,” shares Chetan Raut.
Advantage Maharashtra Expo 2026: A Celebration of Industrial Excellence and Team Spirit
One of MASSIA’s most prominent initiatives is the Advantage Maharashtra Expo. This flagship industrial exhibition has become a benchmark for business networking, technology showcase, and investment opportunities in the region. “We are proud to announce that the ninth edition of this Expo will be held in January 2026,” shared Chetan Raut. To facilitate the scale of this mega-event, the Government of Maharashtra and AURIC (Aurangabad Industrial City) have allocated 57.42 acres of land, a significant endorsement of the Expo’s growing stature. The allotment letter was officially received from PD Malikner, MD of AURIC, enabling MASSIA to prepare for what is expected to be another landmark event.
Reflecting on the success of the previous edition held in 2023, Chetan Raut proudly recalled, “We had 630 stalls, a footfall of nearly 1.85 lakh visitors, and over ₹1,500 crore worth of business inquiries generated.” The overwhelming response has created anticipation across the industry, with many participants from the previous edition waiting to return. “The world-class infrastructure and smooth execution at AURIC left a lasting impression,” he added.
The Dream That Printed Its Own Success
Before leading one of Maharashtra’s most influential industrial associations, Chetan Raut was a young dreamer with a simple yet powerful ambition—to build something of his own. Born and raised in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Chetan Raut completed his schooling at St Francis High School, followed by a Bachelor’s in Production Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Engineering College and an MBA in Marketing from Marathwada University.
Though selected by reputed companies during campus placements, he chose not to pursue a job. “I told my father I didn’t want to do service. I wanted to start my unit,” he recalls. His father, Gajmal Narayan Mali, was a respected Marathi poet and thinker whose works are featured in Bal Bharti and various university textbooks, and who supported Chetan’s vision. At the age of 21, he envisioned setting up a small manufacturing unit, though at that time he did not have any specific product in mind.
The journey was not easy. Financial constraints and the lack of a product didn’t deter his conviction. It took three years from ideation to execution. In 1994, Raut established his first unit, Rajmudra Offset, on a modest 5,000 sq. ft. plot at Chikalthana MIDC. His perseverance paid off—by 1998, he expanded with an adjacent unit, Rajmudra Prakashan Pvt Ltd, and a decade later, in 2008, moved to a 6-acre facility at Shendra MIDC, a five-star industrial zone in Sambhaji Nagar, to set up a fully automatic textbook printing plant.
His passion for innovation led to another milestone in 2010, when Rajmudra became the first company in India to install a Xerox IGen 4 Digital press worth ₹2.5 crore, pioneering print-on-demand in the country. As he prepares to pass the baton to the next leadership team, Chetan Raut shared a heartfelt message: “Always believe in teamwork. A leader’s success is defined not by the position held, but by the justice done to it—with the active contribution and trust of the entire team.” His words resonate as a guiding principle for MASSIA’s continued legacy of industrial empowerment.
