Bhubaneswar: With the ‘Make In Odisha’ conclave barely a few weeks away, the State government and the Centre seem to be vying to take credit for bringing maximum investments to the state.
Close on heels of the State government's ‘Investment Roadshow’ in Mumbai, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today led an ‘Investors' Summit’ in Surat and called upon investors to explore investment opportunities in Odisha.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Pradhan invited industrialists and Odia workers -particularly engaged in textiles and plastic sectors- to invest in downstream polymer industries in Paradip and Bhadrak.
The proposal was made in reference to the plastic park proposed in Paradip. The proposed park spread over 120 acres would host more than 100 micro, small & medium enterprises polymer units with an employment potential for over 10,000 people, informed sources.
"A large number of Odias are working for textile and plastic industries in Surat where they are employed as managers and workers. It is time for them to bring home their experience, float their own firms and contribute towards development of the state,” Pradhan said.
“Investors must make use of the “ease of doing business” opportunity in Odisha to usher industrialization in the state thus fulfilling the dreams of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” said the Union Minister.
“Surat is an industrial hub and hence the road show was held to motivate the investors and Odias working here. We want all Odia youth to stand on their own feet,” Pradhan said during the event.“The Centre is already working towards fulfilling its promise of providing employment and the state government should also cooperate,” added Pradhan.
State Industries Minister Ananta Das however feigned ignorance about the “Investor’s Summit” in Surat.
Reacting to Pradhan’s efforts during the event at Surat today, Das said that the state government does not mind who organizes events so long as it is in the interest of the state. He however added that investments cannot take place without the state government’s co-operation.
Das, who along with a team of delegates, recently returned after his tour to Japan, South Korea and China ahead of Make In Odisha Conclave scheduled to be held in November, informed that the response for the mega event from the foreign investors is very good. At least 20 firms from Japan –Odisha’s ‘Country partner' are keen for investments in the state, informed sources.
“We have assured them all help and cooperation under the permissible law,” said Das.
Meanwhile, the over enthusiasm shown by both the Centre and the State government to fetch investors to Odisha has raised many eyebrows.“Investors look for three crucial factors- raw materials, market and infrastructure. If these things are sorted, there are no roadblocks in getting investors for Odisha,” opined journalist Dilip Sathpathy.