Bhubaneswar: After Odisha achieved a landmark recognition by securing a place among the top five states in NITI Aayog’s Investment Friendliness Index 2026, industry leaders are lauding the state government for the achievement.
With 52.4 points, Odisha ranked fifth and became the only state from Eastern and Northern India to feature in the elite list. Gujarat topped the index with 56.6 points, followed by Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Goa, officials said.
Following the outstanding show, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi was felicitated on Thursday by leading industrialists, representatives, and industry associations who hailed Team Odisha’s collective efforts.
“This recognition is not just about investment—it is about economic growth. Our goal is to place Odisha among the top five states in overall economic development as well,” said the Chief Minister.
Stressing that Odisha is witnessing rapid progress, Majhi said the state has already crossed Rs 3 lakh crore in investments within two years, against a five-year target of Rs 5 lakh crore. Over 453 projects have been approved, promising Rs 9.5 lakh crore in investments and creating 2.5 million employment opportunities across districts.
Industry leaders, including representatives from CII and ICC, praised Odisha’s transformation under strong leadership, stating that the state is no longer just a “land of possibilities” but a “land of performance.” Ministers and officials echoed the sentiment, emphasising the collaborative spirit driving industrialisation and IT growth in Odisha.
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s support and the state’s accelerated pace, Odisha is poised to climb even higher in the national rankings, with industry bodies predicting a second-place finish in the near future, said Majhi.
Noting that states like Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have long been recognized as industrialised states, the Chief Minister said Odisha started late but is now moving forward at a fast pace. “We have to maintain this speed. We will work to increase the investment fivefold in 5 years,” he added.