Madhya Pradesh, in its present form, came into existence on November 1, 2000, following its bifurcation to create the new state of Chhattisgarh. With a Net State Domestic Product of US$ 22.85 billion in 2004-05, Madhya Pradesh is the ninth largest state economy in India.

The state's central location gives it the unique advantage of being the hub in India's national logistics network. Key industry sectors in Madhya Pradesh are cement, textiles, mining and edible oils.

The state is one of the largest producers of cement in the country and a leading producer of edible oils. Industries with potential for significant development in the state are automobiles and pharmaceuticals. A number of automobile and pharmaceutical companies are investing in establishing/expanding their production base in the state.