Bhubaneswar: On day two of the Utkarsh Odisha – Make in Odisha Conclave 2025, one of India’s largest investment summits, a sectoral session on circular economy was held, highlighting Odisha’s commitment to transitioning from a linear to a circular economic model.
The session was inaugurated by Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia, Minister of Forest, Environment & Climate Change, who emphasized that Odisha, with its industrial strength and natural resource base, is well-positioned to lead India’s circular economy transition.
The session was facilitated by the Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department and the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC India) serving as the knowledge partner to the Odisha government on circular economy initiatives.
Over 300 participants, including investors, business leaders, government officials, and academicians, attended the session. Discussions centered on achieving a “Cradle to Cradle Vision for Swachh and Viksit Odisha – 2036.”
Minister Singkhuntia urged investors to align their projects with Odisha’s circular economy vision and assured them of the government’s full support in fostering a sustainable and robust ecosystem.
As part of the event, the Minister released a Vision Framework for Circular Economy, prepared by SPCB in collaboration with PwC. Odisha has received investment intents for 28 projects, amounting to ₹4,075 crore, with the potential to generate over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs in the circular economy sector.
Satyabrata Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, FE&CC Department, underscored that the circular economy is a model of growth that reduces material usage, redesigns materials, products, and services to be less resource-intensive, and recaptures waste as a resource to manufacture new materials.
He highlighted that Odisha, as an emerging industrial powerhouse, must transition systematically from a traditional linear model to a circular economic framework. With its strong industrial base and expanding urban centers, Odisha generates over 100 million tonnes of secondary raw materials annually, including slag, fly ash, dolochar, gypsum, and plastics. These materials present significant “Waste to Wealth” opportunities for sustainable industrial development.
Dr. K. Murugesan presented key aspects of the Vision Framework for Circular Economy, outlining strategic pillars and interventions necessary for Odisha’s circular transformation. The session featured 11 distinguished speakers and panelists, including N. Subrahmanyam, Scientist E, MoEF&CC, Govt. of India; Janavi Papriwal, Associate Partner, Circulate Capital; Dr. Tapan Kumar Chand, Ex-CMD, NALCO & Co-Convenor, BJP Industry Cell, Odisha; and Dr. Sidhartha S. Padhi, Professor, IIM Kozhikode, Kerala.
The Government of Odisha has received investment intents from leading industry players, including Oil India Limited, Re-Sustainability Ltd, Ganesha Ecopet, Epsilon Carbon Ashoka Pvt Ltd, IDVB Recycling Operations Pvt Ltd, Orissa Metaliks Private Limited, Paradeep Phosphates Limited, Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), Rourkela, and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL). A total of 28 circular economy projects have been proposed, amounting to ₹4,075 crore in investment, expected to generate over 10,000 employment opportunities.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Debidutta Biswal, PCCF & HoFF, emphasized the government’s commitment to collaborating with private players, PSUs, and academia to accelerate Odisha’s transition into a circular economy. Odisha’s push for circularity aligns with its larger vision of Viksit Odisha 2036, aiming to position the state as a preferred destination for sustainability-driven investments.
