Govt to create market for Odisha agri products in Gulf countries: Dharmendra Pradhan

Bhubaneswar: Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said the agri and food processing clusters in Odisha would be linked to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

"While India imports about 40 million metric tonne petroleum products to meet the energy demand, it has planned to export agriculture products to the GCC countries to meet their food security," he said, adding that he will visit UAE next week to hold discussions on this issue.

"I received feedback from senior officers of state government on developing agri and food processing clusters in Odisha, which can be linked to UAE, Saudi Arabia etc in GCC. This will fulfil Prime Minister's vision of doubling farmer's income and link our energy security with their food security," said Pradhan.

He said Odisha's rice and marine products can be exported to these countries.

He also reviewed the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Yojana in Odisha with senior officers of the state government.

"To make Odisha a developed economy, we need to connect it with gas infrastructure," he added.

Under the Urja Ganga project, gas pipeline will connect to 19 districts of Odisha, where gas will flow to domestic households for cooking and to industries through the pipeline, said the Minister.

Pradhan also reviewed the progress of plastic park to be set up by Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) and Indian Oil Corporation in Paradip.

It will give a boost to ancillary industries and MSMEs besides providing job opportunities in the state, he said.

(With Agency inputs)