Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today engaged with prominent industry leaders, MSME entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs, and start-up sector representatives as the government approaches its first anniversary.
During the interaction, the CM expressed gratitude to the entrepreneurs and industry leaders for partnering in Odisha’s growth story. He emphasised Odisha’s rising role as a key hub of industrialisation and highlighted government initiatives aimed at boosting industries’ access to international markets.
Focusing on employment generation, the CM urged industry captains and entrepreneurs to collaborate with the state and contribute to making Odisha an industrial powerhouse.
Speaking to industry leaders, the Chief Minister said, “One year ago, the people of Odisha placed their faith in us to build a future that is inclusive, aspirational, and transformative. Today, as we reflect on this first year, we do so with pride in our progress and with renewed commitment to the journey ahead. The presence of the Prime Minister at the Utkarsha Odisha event made all the difference. His call to investors to invest in Odisha proved highly rewarding for us. Over 150 MoUs were signed, generating investment intents worth Rs 16.7 lakh crore and employment potential for more than 12.9 lakh people. In the last year alone, 206 large projects were approved—nearly double the average of the previous five years—representing a total investment value of over Rs 4.5 lakh crore and employment potential for nearly 2.9 lakh jobs.”
He further added, “Since Utkarsha Odisha, 56 projects have already reached the groundbreaking or inauguration stage, with a combined investment of over Rs 1.78 lakh crore and an employment potential of 1.1 lakh people. These numbers reflect not just our speed but also our scale and substance.”
Highlighting the sectoral diversity of the growth, the Chief Minister stated that investments have spread across 20 sectors—from traditional strengths like mining, metallurgy, and metal downstream to emerging areas such as chemicals, food processing, apparel and textiles, renewable energy equipment, electronics, and tourism.
“Odisha is no longer just the minerals and metals hub of India—it is fast becoming a diversified industrial powerhouse,” he asserted.
He continued, “In many ways, we have achieved more in this one year than in the past five years combined—through quiet, focused, and committed action. Looking ahead, we will focus on four key priorities: First, we will introduce new policies to unlock emerging sectors and enhance global competitiveness. Second, we will expand our land bank and industrial infrastructure to meet future demand. Third, we will revamp our single-window clearance system and develop a modern, integrated project-tracking platform. Fourth, we will work to deregulate and simplify burdensome rules and processes. These steps will ensure faster approvals, seamless coordination, and real-time progress monitoring.”
He also said that the next four years will lay the foundation for a ‘Samrudha Odisha 2036’. The state will build on its leadership in mining, metals, and green chemicals with strong support from industry giants such as IOCL, JSW, JSPL, Tata Steel, AMNS, Vedanta, Hindalco, and Adani. “We are also strengthening port-based industrialisation through the development of new terminals, jetties, and container handling capacities across the Paradip-Dhamra-Gopalpur stretch,” he added.
Under CM Majhi’s leadership, the state has embarked on a mission to redefine its industrial landscape through groundbreaking investment initiatives, positioning Odisha as a rapidly growing industrial hub in Eastern India.
The meeting was attended by MSME & Fisheries Minister Gokula Nanda Mallik, Industries & Skill Development Minister Sampad Chandra Swain, Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary Anu Garg, with Additional Chief Secretary (Industry) Hemant Kumar Sharma delivering the welcome address and Director of Industries Prashant Kumar Reddy offering the vote of thanks.
