BHUBANESWAR: The CII is set to partner Odisha Government for charting a roadmap for ease of doing business in the State.
It has roped in Lee Kuan Yew School for Public Policy (LKYSPP), Singapore to prepare a model for transforming Odisha into a front-ranking State in terms of ease of doing business and attracting investments. An expert group from the reputed institution and CII will visit Bhubaneswar on July 13 and hold discussion with the State Government to firm up partnership plans, Chairman Eastern Region, RAdm AK Verma (Retd) said here on Wednesday.
Singapore is Number One in terms of ease of doing business. CII has already signed an MoU with LKYSPP for initiating similar plans in different States by harnessing the expertise and experience of the country and is looking at signing a tripartite agreement with Odisha Government in this regard, Verma told mediapersons.
The apex body is also pushing the State Government to showcase its potential and opportunities on a larger scale to draw international investments. It should host summit like ‘Invest Odisha’ to attract global investors as many other States like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Punjab and Tamil Nadu are doing.
“Odisha with its vast natural and human resources driven by an investor-friendly Government is fast emerging a top-notch State in the industrial map in the country. It is one of the few States that has marked consistently high economic growth over the last 15 years, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.7 per cent. It should capitalise on its advantages to become a global investment destination and the CII will lend it,” Verma asserted.
A CII delegation comprising Verma, chairman of Odisha State Council DS Ravindra Raj and Regional director, CII (East) Saugat Mukherjee met Chief Secretary GC Pati to discuss issues for furthering industrial climate in the State.
The State has tremendous potential for development of the railway and defence sectors. The CII is working on a plan to build a linkage forum for the Railways and Defence to connect industry with defence PSUs and ordinance factories.
The industry body, which is playing a supportive role in drafting the State Innovation Policy, has mooted a Centre of Excellence on Knowledge Economy. The second such centre in the country will enable the State to position itself as a leading Knowledge Hub, Verma added.