Bhubaneswar, Mar 12: Strong collaboration between industry and government is essential to ensure sustainable and inclusive economic growth, said Sampad Chandra Swain, Minister for Industries, Skill Development and Technical Education, Government of Odisha, while addressing a session organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Odisha during its Annual Meeting in Bhubaneswar.
The session, titled “Odisha Leading: Partnership for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth,” focused on strengthening collaboration between the government and industry to accelerate industrial development, build a stronger innovation ecosystem, and promote inclusive economic growth in the state.
The session began with opening remarks by Anil Kumar Singh, Chairman of the CII Odisha State Council, who highlighted Odisha’s industrial growth and diversification across sectors such as electronics, information technology, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing. He also emphasized the importance of collaboration among government, industry and institutions, while outlining CII Odisha’s initiatives in policy support, investment promotion and capacity-building.
In his inaugural address, Minister Sampad Chandra Swain stressed that a strong partnership between government and industry is vital for sustainable economic development. He highlighted the need for collaboration between large industries and MSMEs and called for balancing economic ambitions with social responsibility to ensure inclusive growth.
The Minister noted that the state government is actively engaging with stakeholders in sectors such as textiles and apparel, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, logistics and advanced manufacturing to build a strong industrial ecosystem and attract investment. He also highlighted the government’s focus on promoting industrial park models across Odisha and developing regional industrial corridors to support the next phase of industrial expansion.
Additionally, he stated that the state is prioritising skill development initiatives to build a future-ready workforce while encouraging greater participation of women in the industrial sector.
Anu Garg, Chief Secretary of Odisha, emphasised the importance of infrastructure and skill enhancement to support the state’s economic transformation. She highlighted the need for expanding ports, airports and road connectivity and referred to the proposed Bhubaneswar–Cuttack–Paradip–Puri Economic Corridor.
She noted that Odisha’s GDP has crossed ₹10 lakh crore and that NITI Aayog has recognised the state as a top performer in economic health indicators. She also pointed out opportunities in real estate, tourism and the Odisha AI Mission, while encouraging investors with the message: “Think India, Think Odisha.”
Hemant Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary for Home, Industries, and Information & Public Relations, Government of Odisha, outlined the state’s industrial roadmap aligned with Vision 2036 and Vision 2047. He stated that manufacturing contributes nearly 47% to the state’s GSDP, while agriculture contributes about 20%.
He highlighted Odisha’s strength in the mining and minerals sector, noting that the state is a leading producer of iron ore, coal, steel and bauxite. He also pointed to growth opportunities in food processing, textiles and packaging.
According to him, Odisha will require investments of around ₹30 lakh crore over the next 15–20 years, with focus on downstream metal industries, chemicals and petrochemicals, textiles, shipbuilding, aerospace and defence sectors.
Mehul Mohanka, Vice Chairman of CII Eastern Region, also addressed the gathering and praised Odisha’s progress, attributing it to strong collaboration between government, industry, academia and communities. He highlighted the state’s achievements in governance, infrastructure and economic transformation.
During the event, the CII Industry Carnival 2025 Awards were presented to recognise outstanding achievements and innovations by industries across the state.
The inaugural session concluded with closing remarks by Manikanta Nayak, Vice Chairman of the CII Odisha State Council, who reaffirmed CII’s commitment to working closely with the Odisha Government and industry stakeholders to drive sustainable industrial growth and economic prosperity in the state.
A special discussion session titled “Future Ready Odisha – Interaction with Young Minds” was also organised, moderated by C. Chandru, CEO of Vedanta Limited. Young entrepreneurs including Swayam Baral, Managing Director of Swadesh Infra Pvt Ltd, and Vibhor Sharma of Shrikem Resins shared insights on startup growth, innovation, mentorship and access to capital.
Senior government officials, industry leaders, startups and members of business associations attended the meeting.
