Rourkela, Jan 28: Western Odisha is no longer the “next frontier” of growth it is a core engine of Odisha’s development, said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi while addressing the inaugural session of the 25th edition of Enterprise Odisha 2026 at Rourkela.
The Chief Minister inaugurated the Silver Jubilee edition of Enterprise Odisha 2026 and dedicated multiple industrial projects in Western Odisha to the nation.
During the occasion, projects worth ₹8,884 crore were inaugurated and grounded, leading to the generation of 6,832 employment. MoUs and investment intents worth ₹52,026 crore were achieved, with an employment potential of 20,427.
The event was graced by Minister for Industries, Sampad Chandra Swain; Raghunathpali MLA, Durga Charan Tanti; Additional Chief Secretary, Industries, Hemant Sharma; Chairperson, CII; industrialists and investors; representatives of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII); policymakers; MSME entrepreneurs; startup founders; women entrepreneurs; and senior government officials.
Leading companies such as Tata Steel, MCL, JSW, Vedanta, Dalmia Cement, SAIL, AMNS, and the Rourkela Chamber of Commerce, among others, participated in the event. More than 500 people gathered to witness this significant moment in the industrial growth journey of Western Odisha.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said, “The Silver Jubilee edition of Enterprise Odisha represents a new way of thinking for us; a mindset where we aspire to be the best in every sector. We will be the best, and we will compete with the best. With this confidence, we are moving forward.”
Referring to the theme of this year’s event, the Chief Minister said, “The theme of this year’s event is ‘Odisha: Best Place to Live, Work and Do Business.’ This reflects our renewed vision that economic growth must go hand in hand with an improved quality of life. Industrial development must create employment opportunities, enhance living standards, and ensure that ease of doing business is matched with ease of living. Industrial growth should bring better opportunities into the lives of every citizen.”
Highlighting the state government’s industrial strategy, CM Majhi said, “Our strategy is clear-- establish a few anchor industries in every region and develop hundreds of MSMEs around them as suppliers, vendors, logistics partners, fabricators, maintenance providers, packaging units, and technology partners. This will ensure that our youth no longer need to migrate for jobs; opportunities will come to their doorstep.”
The event marked the inauguration of 11 industrial projects with an investment of ₹5,708.00 crore, generating employment for 4183 persons. This was followed by the grounding of 9 projects worth ₹3,176.00 crore, creating employment for 2649 persons.
During his visit to Rourkela, the Chief Minister also participated in 3 key roundtable discussions with the Rourkela Chamber of Commerce, Orissa Sponge Iron Manufacturing Association (OSIMA), and a special interaction with delegations from Ranchi and Raipur. These engagements highlighted the growing RRR Corridor—Raipur–Ranchi–Rourkela, reflecting enhanced regional collaboration and shared growth prospects.
Through these roundtables, 22 MoUs worth ₹43,349 crore were signed, generating 18985 employment, while 5 investment intent of ₹8677 crore with employment potential of 1442 was received.
The Chief Minister handed over the letter offering 1,447.927 acres of land at Kamakhyanagar, Dhenkanal to Vedanta Aluminium Ltd. for its proposed 3 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) aluminium smelter and 4,900 MW Captive Power Plant (CPP) project. The allotment, approved by the 41st High Level Clearance Authority (HLCA), marks a significant milestone in fast-tracking the project toward implementation. The State Government looks forward to expeditious next steps to facilitate timely grounding of the project.
Minister for Industries, Sampad Chandra Swain, stated: “Enterprise Odisha 2026 is focused on delivery. Investor interest has already translated into MoUs and project intents, and our priority is to move swiftly from land allocation to grounding and production, particularly in downstream manufacturing and metal ancillaries across Western Odisha.”
