Bhubaneswar: Government of Odisha successfully organized Odisha Investors’ Meet at Raipur on 14th and 15th July, 2023, with a focus on attracting investments in varied industry sectors. The road show aimed to showcase the immense potential of Biju Economic Corridor along the Biju Expressway and favorable business environment offered by Odisha in these sectors, encouraging investors to explore opportunities in the State.
The event was graced by the presence of esteemed dignitaries, including Pratap Keshari Deb, Minister Energy, MSME & Industries, Pradeep Kumar Jena, Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha, Hemant Sharma, Principal Secretary, Industries Department and Chairman of IDCO and IPICOL, Government of Odisha. The road show witnessed active participation from over 200 delegates representing various industries from Chhattisgarh.
Industries Minister Pratap Keshari Deb, commenced the Raipur road show by extending a warm welcome to all attendees. He emphasized the Government of Odisha’s commitment to apprise the audience about the state’s industrial landscape in the Metal Ancillaries and Food Processing sectors. He highlighted Odisha’s remarkable progress and development, showcasing impressive growth rates in Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and its rapid industrialization. He further stated that, under the able leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Odisha today is at the brink of the ‘Industrial Revolution Next’ in the Manufacturing Sector.
Addressing the esteemed gathering, Pradeep Kumar Jena, Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha, emphasized Odisha’s status as one of the fastest-growing economies in India. He highlighted the State’s consistent growth above the national average, driven by abundant natural resources and its strategic location catering to the ASEAN region. Jena emphasized the State’s skilled and productive human resources, progressive policies, and result-oriented governance, creating a unique ecosystem for investors to establish their industrial units in Odisha. He welcomed industry captains, associations, and their members present at the event to explore Odisha as their next investment destination.
Principal Secretary, Industries Department and Chairman of IDCO and IPICOL, Hemant Sharma, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the robust industrial ecosystem in Odisha. He emphasized the state’s conducive business environment, built on two decades of stable governance, high rankings in the Ease of Doing Business index, competitive cost of operations, effective investment facilitation, attractive incentives, and a skilled workforce. Sharma also shed light on the industrial parks and regions developed by the Government of Odisha to provide exceptional facilitation to investors across sectors. He further highlighted the growing markets in Eastern and North-Eastern parts of India, which present lucrative opportunities for businesses establishing their presence in Odisha. Speaking about Odisha’s industrial readiness, Sharma stated, “Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Odisha is emerging as the Industrial Hub of the East and a gateway to the East and Southeast Asian Markets.”
Furthermore, representatives from leading companies such as Vedanta, JSPL shared their positive experiences of investing and operating in Odisha. They praised the State’s industrial infrastructure, streamlined processes through the single-window system, and the unwavering support received from the Government of Odisha. Expressing their excitement, they affirmed their commitment to contributing to the State’s economic growth and fostering enduring partnerships with local communities.
The session concluded with Bhupendra Singh Poonia, MD IDCO & IPICOL, expressing heartfelt gratitude to all the investors for their participation in the Raipur Roadshow. He urged the investors to consider Odisha as their preferred investment destination.
In addition to the roadshow, the Government of Odisha delegation held fruitful discussions with over 50 industry leaders from various sectors to understand their investment plans. Shri Jena highlighted the significant pro-business reforms undertaken by the government and encouraged the industrialists to explore the potential opportunities in Odisha for their businesses.