Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Majhi was accorded a warm welcome at Biju Patnaik International Airport as he returned to Bhubaneswar on Sunday after the five-day tour of United Arab Emirates (UAE) during which the Odisha bagged investment proposals worth ₹2.43 lakh crore with an employment potential of 6.18 lakh.
Speaking to media, the Chief Minister emphasised the government’s commitment to securing a bright future for the state’s youth. “Our government is utilising its maximum potential to secure a golden future for the youth of Odisha. The primary objective is to ensure that our sons and daughters get dignified employment on their home soil after completing their education. To achieve this, we have scaled up our industrialisation drive from the outset,” he stated.
Majhi added that the UAE visit marks a significant new chapter in the state’s ongoing two-year industrial expansion campaign.
After the ‘Utkarsh Odisha – Make in Odisha Conclave’ held in Bhubaneswar in January 2025, a dedicated team has continuously pursued investments through visits to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Gujarat, Singapore and other locations. “These efforts are accelerating economic growth, creating widespread job opportunities and serving as milestones toward building a prosperous Odisha,” a CMO release said.
High-Level Engagements and Major Partnerships
The delegation, comprising the Chief Minister, the Minister of Industries, and senior government officials, conducted 52 business meetings, including 6 roundtable meetings and 46 one-to-one meetings, engaging with nearly 400 industry leaders and representatives, in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from September 9 to 11. The visit resulted in the signing of 8 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and generation of 16 investment intents. These are expected to bring ₹2,43,162 crore in investment proposals to the state, creating 6,18,725 direct jobs. Including indirect employment, the total job opportunities are projected at 9 lakh.
Combined with earlier proposals exceeding ₹20 lakh crore, Odisha’s cumulative investment proposals have now reached ₹22.5 lakh crore, the release further stated.
The Chief Minister also held important discussions with UAE’s Economy and Tourism Minister and Chairman of the International Holding Company (IHC), Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, and IHC Managing Director Syed Basar Shueb. Building on the partnership between IHC and the Adani Group formalised on July 2, 2026, MoUs were signed for 14 new projects in Odisha. These include efforts to set up integrated aluminium projects by the two companies in Rayagada and Sundaragada districts.
Additionally, the Chief Minister interacted with successful Odia entrepreneurs and the Odia diaspora in the UAE, which is expected to further strengthen bilateral business and cultural ties.
Majhi reaffirmed the government’s vision of a prosperous Odisha by 2036 and its goal of transforming the state into a $500 billion economy within the next decade. “Skill training is being provided to make the youth employment-ready for the upcoming factories and offices. Following initial successes, the next priority is to operationalise these investment proposals and MoUs swiftly so that production can begin and large-scale employment opportunities can be realised in the coming years,” the release added.