Cuttack, Feb 17: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday laid the foundation stone of a textile park in Odisha’s Chowdwar.
This textile manufacturing and warehousing complex, established by the Wellspun Group with an investment of Rs 3,050 crore, is anticipated to directly employ 10,000 individuals, while indirectly generating employment for 20,000 more. Moreover, it is poised to create numerous self-employment avenues within the state.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister remarked that the establishment of this complex reinstates Chowdwar's historical significance.
He highlighted Chowdwar's legacy as an industrial hub, initially developed by former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik in the 1950s. The Chief Minister expressed pride in witnessing a new chapter unfold for Chowdwar, Cuttack district, and the broader state of Odisha.
Patnaik further disclosed that cotton farmers from Kalahandi, Balangir, Rayagada, and Gajapati districts would benefit from this initiative. Additionally, the complex aims to offer employment opportunities to women across the state, with plans to provide them skill training to enhance their capabilities.
The proposal for establishing a textile facility in Odisha was presented to Welspun Group Chairman B K Goenka by the state's industrial department and Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha (IPICOL) during the Make In Odisha program in 2022.
Chairman Goenka expressed his confidence in Welspun Group's contribution to Odisha's growth trajectory, emphasizing the state's attractiveness for investments, surpassing that of other regions in the country. Apart from the significant direct and indirect job opportunities, he underscored the potential for fostering self-employment.
Highlighting Chowdwar's historical significance as Odisha's inaugural industrial town, Industries Minister Pratap Keshari Deb underscored the complex's potential to create self-employment avenues for many within the state.
VK Pandian, Chairman of 5T and Nabin Odisha, outlined various government initiatives under the 5T framework and announced that scholarships under the Nua-O scheme would be disbursed by February 25th.
