CM Naveen’s Japan Visit to Mark a New Era of Odisha’s Industrial Development

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has embarked on a week-long visit to Japan with a high level delegation of the State Government officials and industry partners.

The visit of the Chief Minister comes at a time when the State is witnessing a rapid transformation for the last few years and the industrial growth is at its best.

The visit of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to Japan will accelerate and strengthen the age old bond between Odisha and the East Asian country. The visit is being seen as a win-win proposition for both as it will open up vast avenues of cooperation. While Odisha has the largest deposits of metals and minerals along with skilled manpower and infrastructure, Japan has the best of the available technology and resources. Odisha has been a preferred destination for the Japanese investors for long and more than 50 companies are operating in the State.

The visit of the high level delegation and its interaction with the industry and officials is going to pave way for more foreign direct investments into the State. Odisha’s vast sea coast, mineral resources, tourism potential and most importantly availability of skilled manpower will be the game changers for the Japanese companies. Coupled with that, the delegation will also showcase Odisha’s peaceful environment, strong and stable political leadership and a pro-active government machinery that will bring ease of doing for the investors.

Japan has had an enchanting cooperation with Odisha for decades. It was the Country Partner for the Make In Odisha Conclave in 2022 and 2018. Companies such as Arcelor Mittal, Nippon Steel, TRL Krosaki, Indo-Nissin have made Odisha their home. The visiting delegation will woo the Japanese investors from a wide variety of sectors including mining, minerals, manufacturing, chemicals, sea food processing, tourism and technology. The cultural relationship that Odisha shares with Japan will also help making Japan to choose Odisha as the preferred destination of investment.

Odisha’s strength lies in its robust infrastructure, strong political will and enabling bureaucracy coupled with the natural resources. The latest Make in Odisha Conclave concluded in December 2022 attracted investments of more than Rs Ten lakh crore reinforcing the fact that the State is now gateway to East India. If only Japan can grow its investments in the country it is only through Odisha. Japanese investments in steel and downstream sectors, aluminum downstream, chemicals, petrochemicals, seafood processing, electronics, and automobile manufacturing have the best destination in Odisha.

Odisha has also a long relationship with JICA – Japan International Cooperation Agency which has been funding many infrastructure and public utility projects in Odisha. The government of Odisha has also readied an exclusive investment corridor for Japanese investments with more than 600 acres of land.