Bhubaneswar, Oct 14 (IANS) Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 46 medium and large industrial projects worth Rs 39,383 crore across 14 districts of the state, describing the event as a golden chapter in Odisha’s second industrial revolution.
According to the officials, the industrial projects, launched at an event in the Kalinganagar area of Jajpur district on Wednesday, are expected to generate 42,512 jobs.
Addressing the gathering during the event, Majhi said, “The launch of industrial projects across Odisha on this auspicious day marked a golden chapter in the state's second industrial revolution. Before our government came to power, industrial investment had remained merely a slogan and a means of publicity. But we have translated every Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) into reality, built factories, started production and succeeded in employing our Odia sons and daughters.”
He said Odisha is at the centre of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Purvodaya vision and the state government aimed to build a ‘Samruddha Odisha’ by expanding its economy to $500 billion over the next 10 years.
Majhi also said Odisha’s second position in the country in attracting investments, according to a NITI Aayog index, reflected the industry’s confidence in the state. The projects inaugurated and launched on Wednesday are spread across Anugola, Bargada, Baleshwar, Boudh, Kataka, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Kendujhar, Khordha, Mayurbhanj, Puri, Sambalpur and Sundargada districts.
The Chief Minister said industrial development should not remain confined to a few districts only. He noted that in less than two years, the government has laid the foundation stones for or inaugurated 151 projects involving investments of more than Rs 3.11 lakh crore, opening up employment opportunities for over 2.4 lakh young people.
With the latest projects launched on Wednesday, the total value of projects grounded in the state has crossed Rs 3.5 lakh crore, Majhi added.
CM Majhi also informed that the government has been giving priority to labour-intensive sectors such as textiles and garments, food processing and pharmaceuticals to stop distress migration of youths to outside the state for jobs.
He also urged industries to provide more employment opportunities for women in sectors such as textiles, electronics and IT services. The Chief Minister said the government was providing support to investors throughout the project life cycle, from proposal submission to project implementation.
So far, 560 industrial proposals involving investments of more than Rs 12.07 lakh crore have been approved, with the potential to generate around seven lakh jobs, he said.
Taking a swipe at the opposition, Majhi said that while opposition parties were busy with politics, his government was focused on Odisha’s progress and development.
