The state has received one third of the foreign direct investment (FDI) that entered the country between 2000 and 2012, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said in a statement on Monday.

According to the report released by the Centre's commerce and industries ministry, the state has received Rs2,81,565 crore of foreign direct investment from 2000-2012, almost 33% of the country's FDI. While Delhi used 19%, Karnataka used 6% of the foreign investment. Five per cent of the FDI was used by Tamil Nadu and Gujarat each.

The state received a foreign investment of Rs. 27,669 crore in 2010-11, Rs. 44,664 crore in 2011-12 and Rs. 35,000 crore till October last year.

"The new industrial policy will create more confidence among overseas investors. The state will get more investment even as the world faces a financial slowdown," said Chavan.

The Centre's report has brought relief to Chavan who is facing flak over his decision to allow real estate development on 40% of the land acquired by private developers for special economic zones.