Bhubaneswar: Odisha needs to diversify its export base, move towards high-value mineral processing and strengthen district-level industrial ecosystems to sustain economic growth and achieve its development goals by 2047, former NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar said on Friday.
Addressing a discussion on ‘Viksit Odisha: Progress, Prospects and the Road to 2047’, organised by Pahlé India Foundation (PIF) at Vivanta Bhubaneswar, Kumar said the state should increase its merchandise exports from the present $11 billion to $100 billion by 2036.
Kumar, chairman of Pahlé India Foundation, stressed the need to transform Odisha’s mineral wealth into higher-value industrial output by integrating mining with port infrastructure and promoting green steel, green aluminium, green hydrogen and rare-earth magnets.
He noted that eight districts account for 83 per cent of Odisha’s merchandise exports, while the bottom 15 districts contribute barely 2 per cent. To address this regional imbalance, he proposed a district-level strategy combining the One District One Product initiative, a global anchor buyer, a shared processing facility and road or rail connectivity to a port.
With the state’s demographic advantage expected to remain favourable until 2036, Kumar emphasised the need to equip young people with skills aligned with emerging industries.
Highlighting Odisha’s economic expansion over the past two decades, he said sustained nominal growth of 10 per cent annually could help the state attain developed-economy status by 2047, with per capita income reaching around $18,000. Achieving this target would require high-value mining, green metals, global anchor firms and the integration of less-developed districts into global value chains, he added.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg, who attended the programme as the chief guest, said Odisha had drawn up a vision document targeting a $500-billion economy by 2036 and a $1.5-trillion economy by 2047, in alignment with the national goal of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Outlining the state’s development strategy, Garg highlighted the EDGE framework—Economic Strength, Demography, Geography and Ecosystem—as a key approach to achieving the targets.
Under economic strength, she stressed the need to sustain high growth by leveraging mineral resources, maintaining fiscal discipline and revenue strength, securing water resources and attracting greater investment.
On the demographic front, she highlighted the role of educational institutions and the World Skill Center in developing a skilled workforce to meet the requirements of emerging industries.
Garg also underscored the potential of Odisha’s geographical advantages, including iron ore and other mineral resources, the blue economy, deep-sea fishing and marine-based economic activities. Strengthening ease of doing business and creating a conducive environment for investment and entrepreneurship would be crucial to the ecosystem component, she said.
The state is also focusing on high-growth sectors such as information technology, semiconductors, data centres, education and healthcare, while tourism and agriculture would remain important drivers of future growth, she added.
Emphasising that development must extend beyond economic expansion, Garg identified prosperity, wellness and equity as three key pillars for improving quality of life and ensuring inclusive growth. She expressed confidence that Odisha could realise its development ambitions and contribute to the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
The event also saw the launch of a Pahlé India Foundation report supported by Diageo India, titled ‘Unshackling Odisha’s Alcobev Sector: Towards a Business-Driven Partnership Model’.
The report examines the economic contribution of Odisha’s alcoholic beverages sector, including revenue generation, employment, local procurement and environmental performance. It highlights the need to strengthen local supply chains and manufacturing, ensure regulatory predictability and improve coordination between the government and industry to attract investment, create jobs and promote sustainable growth.
