BHUBANESWAR: The strategic shift of the state from a resource-driven economy to future-ready, technology-led industries has begun yielding strong results, with the state securing investment intents worth Rs 1.67 lakh crore, having employment potential for 1.46 lakh people, at investors’ meets held in Hyderabad and Kolkata recently, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said on Tuesday.
Terming the response from industry as a clear vote of confidence in Odisha’s new growth direction, Majhi said the state is positioning itself as an emerging industrial powerhouse by focusing on new-age sectors.
“Traditionally known for steel, mining and heavy industries, Odisha is now expanding into high-growth sectors such as IT and ITES, aerospace and defence, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biotechnology, technical textiles, engineering goods, plastics, chemicals, packaging and recycling. This shift was showcased during the Odisha Investors’ Meets held in Hyderabad in December 2025 and Kolkata a few days back,” Majhi said.
He said six sector-specific roundtable discussions were conducted across the two cities. Hyderabad hosted deliberations on pharmaceuticals and aerospace and defence, while Kolkata saw focused discussions on hosiery, apparel accessories and technical textiles, metal ancillary, downstream and engineering goods, plastics, chemicals, packaging and recycling, medical devices and biotechnology.
A total of 123 industry and corporate leaders participated in these interactions, leading to investment proposals of `1.67 lakh crore with significant employment potential, Majhi said.
“The outcome reflects growing industry confidence in Odisha’s policy stability, reform-oriented governance and investor-friendly ecosystem. Aligning with the national vision of Purvodaya, the state’s target of becoming Samruddha Odisha by 2036 and contributing to Viksit Bharat by 2047, the state has entered the new-age industrial space with clarity and preparedness,” he stressed.
Highlighting Odisha’s strengths, the chief minister said the state offers end-to-end support from innovation to production and logistics backed by major ports at Paradip, Dhamra, Gopalpur, Bahuda and Inchudi-Subarnarekha, expanding air connectivity and robust road infrastructure. Dedicated industrial parks, MSME parks and SEZs provide plug-and-play facilities for investors.
To ensure skilled manpower, the state will establish three additional world-class skill centres in Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur and Berhampur.
“We welcome investors in new-edge sectors to be part of Odisha’s future-ready economy,” Majhi said.