Rourkela: Western Odisha has evolved from a “next frontier” into a central driver of the state’s industrial and economic progress, said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, while addressing the inaugural session of the 25th edition of Enterprise Odisha 2026 at Rourkela on Wednesday.
The event, organised in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), highlighted Odisha’s vision of becoming the “best place to live, work, and do business.”
In his address, Majhi underscored this strategic shift in mindset, declaring, “We will be the best, and we will compete with the best. With this confidence, we are moving forward.” He stressed that the event’s theme reflects a holistic approach where industrial expansion must align with enhanced quality of life. “Industrial development must create employment opportunities, enhance living standards, and ensure that ease of doing business is matched with ease of living. Industrial growth should bring better opportunities into the lives of every citizen,” he noted.
The Chief Minister outlined the government’s industrial strategy of establishing anchor industries in each region to foster an ecosystem for hundreds of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as suppliers, vendors, logistics partners, and service providers. “This will ensure our youth no longer need to migrate for jobs; opportunities will come to their doorstep,” he said.
During the inauguration, Majhi launched and laid the foundation for 20 industrial projects worth 8,884 crore. These initiatives are expected to generate 6,832 direct employment opportunities. He also handed over a letter allotting 1,447.927 acres of land at Kamakhyanagar in Dhenkanal to Vedanta Aluminium Ltd for its proposed 3 million tonnes per annum aluminium smelter and 4,900 MW captive power plant. Approved by the High Level Clearance Authority, this step aims to accelerate project implementation, a CMO release said.
The Chief Minister also engaged in three roundtable discussions with the Rourkela Chamber of Commerce, Orissa Sponge Iron Manufacturing Association (OSIMA), and delegations from Ranchi and Raipur. These sessions spotlighted the emerging Raipur–Ranchi–Rourkela (RRR) Corridor for regional collaboration and shared growth. The roundtables resulted in 22 MoUs worth Rs 43,349 crore, generating 18,985 jobs, and 5 investment intents worth Rs 8,677 crore with 1,442 job potential.
Industries, Skill Development & Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain emphasised on swift execution. “Investor interest has translated into MoUs and intents. Our priority is moving from land allocation to grounding and production, especially in downstream manufacturing and metal ancillaries, he said, adding that skilling initiatives will align workforce development with industry needs for employment-led, future-ready growth in western Odisha.
The event drew participation from prominent companies including Tata Steel, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), JSW, Vedanta, Dalmia Cement, SAIL, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel (AMNS), and the Rourkela Chamber of Commerce. Over 500 attendees, including industrialists, investors, MSME entrepreneurs, startup founders, women entrepreneurs, policymakers, and senior officials, were present.
