- Highlights close neighbourly bonds
- CM Mohan Majhi returns to Odisha with investment proposals worth Rs.1 lakh cr from Kolkata.
At a time when Bengali-speaking migrant workers in Odisha have become a focal point of national discussion due to a surge in identity-based violence and large-scale detentions, Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi highlighted the close neighbourly ties between West Bengal and Odisha to attract investments from Bengal and north-eastern states into Odisha. " We have long cultural and regional ties with West Bengal, we share the same cultural values, though sometimes we compete with Bengal for eg. GI tags on rosogolla, but any such irritants should not deter investors from investing in Odisha, " he said.
In his keynote speech, CM Majhi emphasised that Odisha stands at the forefront of the “Purvodaya” initiative—Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for the industrial resurgence of Eastern India. He noted that Odisha, traditionally recognized for its rich natural resources and leadership in the mining and metals sectors, is now rapidly expanding its footprint in chemicals and petrochemicals and other sectors.
Speaking at the Odisha Investors' Meet in Kolkata organised by CII Eastern Region Majhi said, 'Odisha and West Bengal, we are not only neighbors in geography. We are actually partners in growth. We share a common history, we share a common culture. We share many common traits. We are immediate neighbors."
Odisha' GSDP is 113 billion dollars and is growing at faster than the national rate of growth. Major contribution, 44% comes from industries. In comparison West Bengal's GSDP is 219 billion dollars.
Odisha Investors meet in Kolkata was aimed at deepening partnerships with eastern India’s business community and positioning Odisha as a preferred investment destination, in line with the government’s vision of achieving ‘Samruddha Odisha, Viksit Bharat’.
Chief secretary Anu Garg, additional chief secretary, Industries Hemanta Sharma, principal secretary to CM Saswata Mishra and private secretary to CM Manoj Sahu were part of the delegation.
Some of the companies from West Bengal which have made significant investments in Odisha are Berger Paints, Shyam Steel, Jupiter Wagons, Himadri Speciality Chemicals, Birla Tyres.
