Bhubaneswar: Odisha is firmly positioning itself as a future-ready manufacturing powerhouse, driven by a strategic embrace of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This bold vision was at the forefront of the 2nd Edition of the Odisha Manufacturing Conclave 2025, organized by the ASSOCHAM Odisha State Council, which successfully commenced today.
Pankaj Lochan Mohanty, Chairman, Odisha State Development Council, ASSOCHAM chaired the conclave.
The conclave, themed “AI-Driven Manufacturing: Innovation, Efficiency, and Sustainable Growth,” brought together a formidable assembly of industry leaders, policymakers, technology pioneers, and academicians to deliberate on the state’s roadmap for industrial advancement.
Hemant Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary, Industry, Government of Odisha, underscored the significant progress already made. He highlighted that manufacturing currently contributes a robust 36% to Odisha’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), with the combined contribution of industry and manufacturing reaching an impressive 53%.
Shri Sharma emphasized the immense potential to further elevate this share, stating it remains a top priority for the state government. “Our policies have been strategically designed to drive this growth, and we are witnessing a rapid inflow of investments. Many investment proposals have not only been received but have also been successfully grounded,” he affirmed.
He also noted the transformative impact of technology, citing how land requirements for aluminum plants with double the production capacity have been halved due to improved technology. The state, he added, is actively supporting industries with skilled manpower and comprehensive infrastructure.
A pivotal moment of the event was the unveiling of the ASSOCHAM study paper in partnership with Primus Partners, presented by Shri Sharma.
In his welcome address, Pankaj Lochan Mohanty, Chairman, Odisha State Development Council, ASSOCHAM, lauded the government’s visionary approach and called for strengthened collaboration between government, industry, and academia to foster smart and sustainable manufacturing in Odisha. “AI is no longer an emerging trend; it is now a defining catalyst of modern manufacturing. Odisha must now transition from being resource-rich to becoming data-rich and digitally intelligent,” stated Mr. Mohanty, articulating a clear strategic direction for the state’s industrial future.
The conclave further solidified this focus with the release of the ASSOCHAM-Primus Knowledge Report, offering critical insights into AI adoption and manufacturing best practices.
Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner to East and North East India, highlighted the shared industrial history between India and the UK, emphasizing the alignment of Odisha’s manufacturing aspirations with the UK’s leadership in smart factory automation, advanced industrial engineering, and sustainable supply chain practices, all underpinned by AI.
The conclave featured two key plenary sessions: “Enabling a Competitive Manufacturing Ecosystem – Policy & Tech Integration” and “AI for Sustainable Manufacturing – Innovations & Best Practices.” These sessions provided platforms for eminent speakers and industry experts to delve into leveraging policy frameworks and cutting-edge technologies for a future-ready manufacturing sector, and exploring how AI can foster sustainable growth and unlock new opportunities across various sectors.
The event concluded with a resounding call for collaborative action, reinforcing the collective ambition to establish Odisha as a national leader in AI-powered, sustainable, and intelligent manufacturing. The gathering saw the participation of senior officials, industry stalwarts, technology leaders, and international representatives, with Perminder Jeet Kaur, Senior Director – East & Northeast, ASSOCHAM, extending the vote of thanks. Other prominent dignitaries who addressed the event included D. Prasanth Kumar Reddy, Director of Industries, Odisha; Sashi Sekhar Mohanty, Chairman, Odisha State Manufacturing Council, ASSOCHAM; Prabodh Mohanty, Chairman, Odisha State Mining & Steel Council, ASSOCHAM; Prashant Hota, Chairman, ASSOCHAM Odisha CSR & Sustainability Council; and Bharat Dureja, Senior Adviser, Primus Partners India.