Bhubaneswar, Oct 21: Odisha will showcase its investment potential in the chemical and petrochemical sectors at India Chem 2026, scheduled to be held in Mumbai on October 22, as the state seeks to attract fresh investments and strengthen its position as an emerging industrial destination.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will participate in the inaugural session and the CEO Roundtable, which will be chaired by J. P. Nadda, Union Minister of Chemicals, Fertilizers, during his two-day visit to Mumbai. The visit will focus on attracting fresh investments and strengthening Odisha’s position as an emerging industrial destination in the chemical and petrochemical sectors.

The State’s participation will highlight its industrial strengths, investment-ready infrastructure, progressive policies and growing ecosystem for chemical and petrochemical manufacturing. The programme will provide an important platform for Odisha to engage directly with industry leaders, present new investment opportunities and explore partnerships for the next phase of industrial growth.

During the visit, the Chief Minister is scheduled to hold one-to-one meetings with leading representatives of the chemical and petrochemical industries, with discussions planned with more than 20 major companies. These interactions will focus on potential investments, industrial expansion, downstream manufacturing and opportunities to establish new industrial ventures in Odisha.

A key highlight of the State’s participation will be a presentation on coal gasification project, an emerging area of industrial opportunity for Odisha. The State may also announce the establishment of a dedicated, large-scale chemical industrial park as part of its efforts to strengthen the industrial ecosystem, promote value addition, and attract investments across the chemical, petrochemical, plastics, and packaging segments.

Odisha will participate alongside Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, reflecting the growing importance of states in shaping India’s chemical and petrochemical manufacturing landscape. The event will provide Odisha with an opportunity to demonstrate its capabilities and strengthen engagement with domestic and international industry stakeholders.

The chemical and petrochemical sector is a priority area for Odisha as it seeks to diversify its industrial base, strengthen manufacturing value chains and attract investments in allied sectors, including plastics, packaging and other downstream products. The proposed industrial park is expected to support this ambition by creating an enabling environment for industrial units, ancillary businesses and integrated manufacturing activities.

Over the last two years, Odisha has continued to strengthen its position as an emerging industrial destination, focusing on attracting investments, accelerating project implementation, and creating employment opportunities. In the chemical and petrochemical sector, the State has attracted 56 companies, representing proposed investments of ₹1,93,087.94 crore and an employment potential of 1,12,324 people.

As part of its industrial development efforts, 27 projects in the sector have been grounded or inaugurated, representing investments of ₹60,825.34 crore and an employment potential of 35,351 people. These developments reflect the State Government’s commitment to translating investment commitments into industrial activity, strengthening manufacturing capabilities, and expanding employment opportunities.

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Speaking about Odisha’s participation at India Chem 2026, Hemant Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries, said, “Odisha has a strong industrial foundation, and we are now focused on expanding our presence in high-potential sectors such as chemicals and petrochemicals. Our participation at India Chem 2026 will provide an opportunity to engage directly with leading companies, present the State’s investment opportunities and explore partnerships for future growth. With our industrial infrastructure, progressive policies and resource advantages, we are working to build a competitive ecosystem for chemical and petrochemical industries. The proposed dedicated large chemical industrial park and our focus on coal gasification will further strengthen this effort and open up new avenues for investment, value addition and employment generation.”

He said “The recent groundbreaking and inauguration ceremony in Jajpur further highlights the growing potential of Odisha’s chemical and petrochemical sector. Out of the 53 projects in the sector, 9 projects, comprising 5 inaugurations and 4 groundbreaking, represent an investment of ₹4,136 crore and are expected to generate employment opportunities for 1,508 people. These projects mark another significant step towards strengthening the State’s industrial ecosystem, expanding manufacturing capabilities, and creating employment opportunities”.