Jharsuguda: 11 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with an investment commitment of Rs 23,389.43 crore have been signed with the Government of Odisha on the inaugural day of the 24th CII Enterprise Odisha which is being held at Exhibition Ground, Jharsuguda for the first time from Friday.
This Event is being held in collaboration with The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Odisha Chapter and Government of Odisha. More than 100 exhibitors have showcased their products and services.
Once the projects are implemented, employment opportunities will be created for 15,168 people in the state. With a large number of G2B and B2B meetings scheduled to be held in two days at the summit, the quantum of investment proposals is expected to go up further.
The 24th Enterprise Odisha-2024 started from January 19 to January 21, 2024.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, in a video message, said, “This programme is a testimony to our commitment to take industrial development to every nook and corner of the state. This will bridge the gap in the state and further strengthen growth. Jharsuguda, Rourkela and Sambalpur have emerged as the bedrock of development, not only in Odisha but across the country. In the last two decades, the region has become a symbol of prosperous Odisha. Odisha has now become a manufacturing superpower all over India. While the state has huge mining resources, human resources are also very important to us. The Biju Economic Corridor, which connects Koraput with Jharsuguda, Sambalpur and Rourkela, will provide a huge opportunity for entrepreneurs in the region to grow.”
Speaking on the occasion, Pradeep Kumar Jena, Principal Secretary, Government of Odisha said, “Various agencies have estimated that the Indian economy is growing at a rapid pace and it is going to become a $ 5 trillion economy in some years and $ 25-30 in next few years. This will create huge opportunities for the entrepreneurs of the country, especially young entrepreneurs. Urging investors, he said there is competition among states to come up with attractive policies. Odisha, however, is different from them because it is doing what it says. Odisha is a revenue surplus state. The government has Rs. 55,000 crores in cash. 6.15% of GSDP is being invested in infrastructure. The government aims to increase it to 7.5-8%. ’’
Hemant Sharma, Principal Secretary, Department of Industries, Government of Odisha said, “Jharsuguda is now representative of the industrialization and economic progress of Odisha. The lion’s share of the investment coming to Odisha is being invested in Jharsuguda and its adjoining areas. Renowned companies like Hindalco, Vedanta, MCL, and JSW have invested in the region. Therefore, it has become a magnet for industrial growth in Odisha. Western Odisha is one of the regions of the country where the concentration of steel, aluminium, cement and electricity generation is at the highest level. That’s why it is attracting brands towards itself.’’
Asit Tripathy, Chairman of, the Western Odisha Development Council said, “Jharsuguda has huge opportunities to move forward at a fast pace. It has earned a special place in the industrial map of Odisha. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has given priority to 11 districts in western Odisha. From the Indira irrigation project to the Suktel project, Odisha has invested huge amounts. Sambalpuri temple is being developed on the pattern of Puri. The Biju Economic Corridor is being developed with an investment of Rs 7,000 crore. It has attracted the attention of the government as there is a huge scope in agriculture, tourism and industrial sectors in western Odisha.’’
CII Odisha State Council Chairman Shashi Shekhar Mohanty, Shiv Siddhant Narayan Kaul, Chairman, CII Eastern Region, Sunil Gupta, Chief Operating Officer, Vedanta Limited, Uday A Kaole of Mahanadi Coalfield Limited, Shubhendra Kumar Behera, Vice President, CII Odisha, Anil Kumar Singh, President, JSW BPSI and Dr Pradeep Mohanty, Vice President, CII Odisha were the guests of honour on the occasion.
