Bhubaneswar: As the remarkable increase in the capacities for steel and aluminium manufacturing in Odisha is set to increase the need for mining and mechanical machinery, industrial and social infrastructure and also electricity, Indian multinational conglomerate L&T has evinced interest to expand its presence in the state and enter new verticals of business to gain from this mineral-rich state’s ever-growing industry landscape.
Meeting Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, L&T CEO and Managing Director SN Subramaniyan said that the Company is interested in investing in manufacturing, infrastructure, ship building, IT and skill building sectors in the state. Secretary to CM V K Pandian moderated the meeting.
L&T is likely to develop common industrial facilities such as water and effluent treatment plant for upcoming industrial hubs such as Paradip, Gopalpur and Dhamra.
It also wants to set up a mega structure fabrication facility for supply to its construction sites.
The company may explore the option to set up units in aerospace and defence manufacturing and green hydrogen sectors, informed Subramaniyan during the meeting.
The L&T CEO further said that as Odisha is home to all major minerals and metals, the Metallurgical & Material Handling arm of L&T is willing to explore setting up an office in the Capital City Bhubaneswar.
With three major ports – Dhamra, Paradip and Gopalpur – in Odisha, shipbuilding is one of the priority sectors in the State and L&T will be exploring the opportunities it brings, by developing services such as Refits, Repairs, and Midlife Upgrades for Defence & Commercial vessels, informed Subramaniyan.
As far as the Information Technology sector is concerned, L&T wants to upgrade Mindtree’s Global learning & Software Delivery Center in Bhubaneswar to a Development Center.
As a responsible corporate citizen, L&T can introduce its school adoption program in villages near infrastructural hubs to enhance the quality of education for the children of workers, assured Subramaniyan.
The Construction Major also wants to increase the intake capacity at its existing CSTI at Cuttack – set up jointly with OSDA – to 10,000 per year; and introduce new trade and satellite centres at other locations of the State, said Mr. Subramaniyan.