TV
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi visited New Delhi on Wednesday to woo investors across the globe to bring more investment to the State.
As per sources, CM Majhi is scheduled to hold discussions with ambassadors from different nations and members of several industry associations in New Delhi on Thursday, as part of the groundwork for ‘Utkarsh Odisha’, the state’s premier investors summit, which will take place on 2025 January 28 and 29. The logo of ‘Utkarsh Odisha’ was unveiled at a special function in Bhubaneswar a few days back.
The CM will also conduct the first roadshow for ‘Utkarsh Odisha’ in New Delhi tomorrow to attract investments for the upcoming event, by showcasing the potential and opportunities available in the State.
Though the previous BJD government had organised Make in Odisha Conclave thrice by spending crores of rupees, the initiatives failed completely to bring significant investment and employment opportunities to Odisha. The newly formed government has taken a fresh initiative with a target to bring Rs 5 lakh crore investment to Odisha in the next five years.
“We are targeting to attract Rs 5 lakh crore investments in five years. We will present proposals to both Indian and foreign industrialists and corporates. We have received Rs 45,000 cr investments in the first 100 days,” said CM Majhi ahead of his two-day New Delhi visit.
Shedding light on the upcoming event of ‘Utkarsh Odisha’, Industries Minister Sampad Swain said that the government will give importance to investments in the field of mining, IT, ITES, chemical, petrochemical, textile, tourism and renewable energy.
“We have invited different types of industries from IT, ITES, chemical, petrochemical, textile, tourism and renewable energy to our investors’ meet and roadshows. Our government has set a target on how these industries will grow in Odisha,” said Minister Swain.
During the tenure of the BJD government, Make in Odisha Conclaves were organised in 2016, 2018 and 2022. Many industries and foreign investors participated in the events and expressed a desire to invest more than Rs 16 lakh crore in Odisha. Though MOUs were also signed with many organisations, the projects could not be started.
According to Industries Minister Sampad Swain, the previous government was only signing MOUs by visiting foreign countries.
“Things will not materialize by only signing MOUs. Land acquisition and the required clearances are the first responsibilities of the government to set up industries. Mohan Majhi government is giving importance to increasing land banks. The ease of doing business has also been our priority,” said Minister Swain.
“If we can’t fulfil the demands of the investors and our commitment towards them, then it is futile to organize events like Make in Odisha,” said economist Rajiv Sekhar Sahoo.
Meanwhile, as per the Utkal Chamber of Commerce & Industry (UCCI), Odisha has a good industrial ecosystem and industrial policy. However, a special cell needs to be formed for its proper implementation.
“A dedicated cell should be formed that will help initial grounding. If it could be done, we will not have any problems,” said UCCI president Prabodh Mohanty.
