Odisha CM, Union Steel Minister Discuss About Development of Steel Sector in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: A high level delegation led by Union Minister for Petroleum, Natural Gas &. Steel Dharmendra Pradhan met Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik this evening at Lok Seva Bhawan here and discussed about development of steel cluster and prospects of Japanese investment in steel and downstream industries in Odisha.

During the discussion, the Chief Minister said that Odisha today is the highest producer of steel in India and the strong base oil steel making in the State provides huge opportunity liar ancillary and downstream industry. Thus the State Government is now focusing on encouraging value addition in steel and stainless steel so as to achieve at least filly percent value addition by the year 2030. In this context, the Chief Minister proposes Japanese investment in sectors such as automobiles, food processing, chemicals and Petro chemicals.

Chief Minister made an offer for exclusive Japan Industrial Cluster and Township near Bhubaneswar for which the State Government will provide all necessary facilitation, the CM said.

The CM also urged the Japanese Ambassador to consider be the partner country for the Make-in-Odisha Conclave-2020.

The Chief Minister expresses hope for wider and deeper engagement between the state of Odisha and Japanese industries in the coming years.

The Japanese Ambassador to India Satoshi Suzuki was also present in the meeting.

Union Additional Secretary, Ministry of Steel gave a presentation about the new initiatives called Purvodaya which aims to drive accelerated development of eastern India through establishment of integrated steel hubs for which Odisha has the potential.

The eastern belt has the potential to add more than 75 percent or the country’s incremental steel capacity envisioned by the National Steel Policy. It is expected that out of the 300 MT capacity by 2030-31, over 200 MT can come from this region alone.