Bhubaneswar, June 27: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched the Odisha chapter of the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), supported by NITI Aayog, to promote women-led businesses and strengthen women’s role in the state’s economy.
Speaking at the Udyami Odisha MSME Programme on International MSME Day, Majhi said the platform aims to help women become job creators through easier access to finance, markets, mentorship, skill development, and government support.
The Chief Minister also unveiled a one-year action plan for WEP and highlighted the success of the Subhadra Yojana, stating that over one crore women have benefited. According to survey data, women-led enterprises in Odisha have increased from 25% to 53%.
During the event, Majhi inaugurated a Rs 24.18-crore Rice Milling Cluster in Balasore, laid the foundation for a Rs 17.70-crore Rasagola Cluster at Pahala, and launched two Multi-Product MSME Parks in Ganjam and Kalahandi.
He said over 4.32 lakh MSMEs have benefited from government initiatives, with Odisha’s exports reaching Rs 95,568 crore last year. The MSME sector, he added, will play a key role in achieving the state’s target of becoming a $500-billion economy by 2036.
NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Dr. Ashok Kumar Lahiri praised Odisha’s economic growth and stressed that women’s empowerment would be central to the state’s development.
