States » EastPosted at: Sep 18 2026 7:45PM


Odisha witnesses new trajectory of industrialisation in two years: Industries Minister

Bhubaneswar, Sep 18 (UNI) Odisha has witnessed a new trajectory of industrialisation in the last two years, with industrial projects involving nearly Rs 10 lakh crore in investment and the potential to generate more than 6.30 lakh jobs being approved since the BJP government assumed office in 2024, Industries Minister Sampad Charan Swain said on Friday.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, Swain said such a scale of industrial development had not been witnessed in the 25-year history of industrialisation in Odisha.
He said the government’s primary objective was to convert investment proposals into ground-level projects, facilitate the establishment of industries and create employment opportunities for the youth.
Swain said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s recent visit to the UAE had brought unprecedented investment opportunities to Odisha. The delegation led by the Chief Minister held around 52 meetings with 160 prominent investors, industry leaders and leading business organisations from the UAE and other parts of the world, resulting in 24 investment proposals for the state, he said.
The proposals are expected to bring investments of around Rs 2,43,162 crore and generate more than 8.95 lakh employment opportunities, the Minister said.
He said the proposals had opened up new opportunities in aluminium and downstream industries, critical minerals, green energy, logistics, food processing, textiles, chemicals and other emerging sectors.
The UAE visit, he said, would remain a historic and highly successful chapter in Odisha’s industrial development.
Swain said the state government had approved industrial projects across 10 major sectoral groups with the objective of ensuring balanced and comprehensive development.
“We are promoting industrialisation in all 30 districts of the state, from Malkangiri to Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh to Jagatsinghpur,” he said.
The government was not merely approving industrial projects but was also laying special emphasis on translating investment proposals into reality, he said.
So far, inauguration and foundation-laying ceremonies have been held for 151 industrial projects involving investments of around Rs 3.12 lakh crore, with the potential to create more than 2.40 lakh jobs, Swain said.
He alleged that industrialisation had remained in poor condition under the previous BJD government and claimed that there had been no genuine political will to establish industries in the state.
During the 10-year tenure of the BJD government from 2014 to 2024, only 370 projects involving an investment of Rs 3.26 lakh crore could be inaugurated or have their foundation stones laid, he claimed.
“In contrast, our BJP government has managed to inaugurate or lay foundation stones for 151 industrial projects involving around Rs 3.12 lakh crore in just 27 months, from June 2024 till now,” Swain said.
He said that under the previous government, an average of 37 projects involving investments of around Rs 32,620 crore were taken up annually.
Swain also claimed that the present government had succeeded in bringing back industrial projects that had moved out of Odisha due to what he alleged was a lack of commitment and political will under the previous government.
“POSCO is a glaring example. In the coming days, JSW and POSCO are set to jointly establish steel plants in Keonjhar and Dhenkanal. Is this not the real picture of a transformed Odisha?” he asked.
After assuming office in 2024, the BJP government organised investors’ meets and roadshows in Delhi, Mumbai and Singapore ahead of the Utkarsh Odisha Conclave, he said.
In Singapore, the government focused on technology, digital services, electronics, semiconductors, manufacturing, textiles, logistics, petrochemicals, skill development and port-led industries, he said.
The Delhi roadshow held in April 2025 attracted investment proposals worth Rs 98,880 crore with the potential to create 67,000 jobs, while the Hyderabad Investors’ Meet in December 2025 received proposals worth Rs 66,781 crore with the potential to generate 56,340 jobs, Swain said.
At the Kolkata roadshow held on January 17, 2026, investment proposals worth Rs 1,00,317 crore were received, with the potential to create 90,752 jobs, he said.
Similarly, the Rourkela Investors’ Meet in January 2026 attracted proposals worth Rs 52,028 crore with the potential to generate 20,427 jobs, while the Gujarat roadshow in May 2026 received proposals worth Rs 48,330 crore with the potential to create 67,838 jobs.
Through Odisha Food Pro 2026, organised in Delhi in August 2026, the government attracted investment proposals worth Rs 66,392 crore with the potential to create more than 54,000 jobs, he said.
Swain said the Utkarsh Odisha Conclave organised by the BJP government attracted 593 proposals across 20 sectors, involving total proposed investments of Rs 16.73 lakh crore, which he described as an all-time record in Odisha’s industrial history.
The government had also initiated steps to make Odisha a leading state in the textile and apparel sector, he said. Through Odisha Tex 2025, as many as 33 MoUs were signed in the textile and apparel sector, bringing investment proposals worth Rs 7,808 crore to the state.
Similarly, the Odisha Pharma Conclave 2025 was organised to attract investments in new-age sectors such as pharmaceuticals and medical devices, following which the government formulated the Odisha Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Policy 2025.
The Pharma Conclave resulted in 69 projects involving investment proposals worth Rs 7,043 crore being brought to the state, Swain said.
On industrial development, the Minister criticised the previous government, alleging that it had relied on “fabricated stories” instead of delivering results.
He said the BJD’s description of every initiative of the present government as a “photo-op” reflected its political frustration.
“The BJD had ample opportunities but did not work,” Swain said.
Citing a recently published CMI report, he claimed that Odisha ranked second in attracting investors, while a NITI Aayog report identified Odisha as a best-performing state.
UNI DP
Tags: #Odisha witnesses new trajectory of industrialisation in two years: Industries Minister
More News

Odisha to develop 870-acre Silicon Valley at Naraj near Cuttack

18 Sep 2026 | 8:39 PM

Bhubaneswar, Sep 18 (UNI) Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday announced the development of an 870-acre Odisha Silicon Valley at Naraj near Cuttack to host major semiconductor, electronics and IT projects, as the State seeks to emerge as a key hub for the industry. .

see more..

Odisha CM announces Silicon Valley at Naraj to drive semiconductor growth

18 Sep 2026 | 8:29 PM

Bhubaneswar, Sep 18 (UNI) Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday announced the development of an 870-acre Odisha Silicon Valley at Naraj near Cuttack, envisaging it as a major hub for semiconductor, electronics and IT projects.

see more..

BJD demands accountability, comprehensive reforms in Odisha examination system

18 Sep 2026 | 8:13 PM

Bhubaneswar, Sep 18 (UNI) The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Friday demanded a time-bound and transparent probe into the reported question-paper leak in the 3 Second Semester Examination at Utkal University and called for comprehensive reforms to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

see more..

Rourkela Steel Plant deploys Prahari AI to strengthen workplace safety

18 Sep 2026 | 7:56 PM

Bhubaneswar, Sep 18 (UNI) Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) has developed and deployed an Artificial Intelligence-based video analytics system, “Prahari AI – Intrusion Detection with Digital Fencing,” to strengthen real-time surveillance and prevent unauthorised entry into critical and restricted areas of the plant.

see more..

Odisha witnesses new trajectory of industrialisation in two years: Industries Minister

18 Sep 2026 | 7:45 PM

Bhubaneswar, Sep 18 (UNI) Odisha has witnessed a new trajectory of industrialisation in the last two years, with industrial projects involving nearly Rs 10 lakh crore in investment and the potential to generate more than 6.30 lakh jobs being approved since the BJP government assumed office in 2024, Industries Minister Sampad Charan Swain said on Friday.

see more..