Rayagada: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today inaugurated the expansion of the existing Alumina refinery of Utkal Alumina located at Kashipur, Rayagada.
Situated at the tribal hinterland of Odisha, the expansion unit by the Aditya Birla group is built with an investment of Rs 1500 crore will improve the refinery’s annual capacity by 0.5 MT to 2 MT alumina production.
For this new unit, more than 500 people are being employed through direct and contractual roles. Reportedly, Aditya Birla group employs more than 12,000 people in Odisha, which accounts for more than 10% of its global workforce.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said, “I am particularly happy that investors in Odisha are expanding their existing projects in Odisha even after the impact of COVID-19. This shows that our economy is bouncing back from the impacts of the pandemic and we are back on the path of sustained growth and development.”
Odisha’s association with the Aditya Birla group has been a fruitful and prosperous one. The Aditya Birla group has been a key player in the industrial growth story of Odisha with their presence spanning across sectors like metals, mining, cement, financial services, fashion and retail, he said.
The group has contributed significantly to healthcare, education, sustainable livelihood and other community engagement programs in Odisha as part of their CSR activities. Today’s inauguration is a testament to the long-standing relationship between the Aditya Birla group and Odisha, he further said.
The dignitaries present in the virtual ceremony were, Industries Minister Dibya Shankar Mishra; ST &SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Minister Jagannath Saraka, Chief Secretary SC Mahapatra, Principal Secretary, Industries Hemant Sharma, Rayagada Collector, Chairman of Aditya Birla Group Kumar Mangalam Birla and MD of Hindalco Satish Pai.
The active participation of Odisha based industries including the Aditya Birla Group in the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities has been phenomenal. The number of companies investing in the state has been phenomenal the last couple of years and such investments will transform lives across the State.
