Bhubaneswar: Odisha opened the first day of substantive engagements during Chief Minister’s UAE visit with progress on the integrated aluminium project, an MoU covering 14 new projects and cooperation agreements on trade and port development.
Led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the engagements brought together leading businesses and investment institutions to expand the State’s international investment partnerships during the visit from September 8 to 12, 2026.
The Chief Minister met representatives of the Indian Business and Professional Group (IBPG), including Rajiv Shah, President, IBPG, Varun Wahi, General Secretary, IBPG and other senior members. Discussions focused on generating investment interest and strengthening commercial links between Odisha and UAE-based businesses.
A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between Government of Odisha and IBPG to promote bilateral trade and explore investment opportunities in Odisha. The engagement also explored opportunities for increasing exports of Odisha’s products, including spices such as turmeric and ginger, seafood and other products, while encouraging contract manufacturing for leading UAE brands and facilitating opportunities for highly skilled manpower.
Entrepreneurs from Odisha also participated and shared their perspectives on expanding business partnerships, strengthening market linkages and enhancing access to UAE market.
The Chief Minister met Hazeem Sultan Al Suwaidi, CEO, Borouge (Petrochem Sector), and invited company to explore a large scale chemicals downstream complex in Odisha, with potential feedstock linkages to Indian Oil Corporation Limited’s proposed naphtha cracker at Paradip. Borouge produces polyethylene and polypropylene for applications including infrastructure, energy, mobility, healthcare, agriculture and advanced packaging. Borouge Plc reported revenue of US$ 5.85 billion for calendar year 2025.
At a separate roundtable with UAE-based investment institutions, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi presented a range of Government projects available for development through public-private partnerships. Discussions focused on opportunities for institutional participation in Odisha’s infrastructure pipeline, project evaluation and potential avenues for long-term investment partnerships.
The roundtable brought together senior representatives from leading UAE-based investment and business institutions, including Abdulha Zeini Jafri, Divisional Director IFC, GCC, Giulio Occhuonereo, Head of Quantitative Research Development IRH Global Trending, and Francesca Maria MD of Elliptic FZ. The opening day of Odisha’s UAE investment outreach further strengthened State’s engagement with global investors and institutions.
The discussions on infrastructure, ports, trade and investment partnerships are expected to create stronger foundation for sustained investment, employment generation and wider market access, advancing vision of Samruddha Odisha.
