Bhubaneswar: Odisha has always been a preferred destination for metal sector investments and to further enhance the downstream ecosystem in steel sector of the state, the Odisha government is coming out with a roadmap ‘VISION 2030: Development of Downstream Units’ with focus on achieving 50 per cent value addition to the primary metal produced in the state, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said on Tuesday.
Addressing the inaugural session of the conclave on ‘Capital Goods for Steel Sector Manufacture in India’ being organised by Ministry of Steel here, the Chief Minister said, “Enhancing and strengthening the infrastructure in steel sector has been a priority of my government. The Kalinganagar National Investment Manufacturing Zone presents a symbiotic ecosystem built around the existing steel plants where the downstream industries can thrive. We are also encouraging mother plants to set up downstream industrial parks focusing on steel industries.”
Highlighting that Odisha produces half of the country’s iron ore, which makes it an ideal location for setting up steel industries, Naveen said that the installed capacity of crude steel making in the state has grown to 33 million tonnes per annum today from just 4 million tonnes per annum in 1999-2000.
“My state has taken significant steps in building the support infrastructure for development of industries. Over last 18 years, our port handling capacity has increased by ten folds to 190 million metric tonnes per annum. Power generation capacity has increased more than threefold and road network has increased over 50 percent during this period, which are key considerations for growth of the steel sector,” Naveen added.
