Mumbai, July 3 -- The cabinet sub-committee on industries on Wednesday approved 17 projects in key sectors that will bring in investments worth Rs.1.35 lakh crore and generate around 100,000 direct and indirect jobs in the state. The list of approved projects includes a greenfield gas-to-chemical project in Raigad district that will be established by Essar Exploration and Production Limited at a cost of Rs.56,852 crore and generate around 25,000 jobs. Other projects approved by the sub-committee pertain to manufacturing of semiconductors, silicon ingots and wafers, solar cells and modules, electric vehicle components, lithium-ion batteries, space and defense equipment, textiles and green steel, among others. "The investments will stimulate technological innovation, research and development, and boost employment in the state," said chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, the head of the cabinet sub-committee which is authorised to grant incentives to large and mega projects under the package scheme of incentives and thrust sector policy. The sub-committee examined a total of 19 major, large, and mega projects at its meeting held on Wednesday and approved 17 of them....