Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has declared that the primary objective of his government is to position Odisha among the top five developed states in India. He made this statement at the closing ceremony of a seminar titled ‘Strengthening the Growth Engine of Odisha,’ organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Small Enterprises Bharati.
The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, noting that the upcoming GST reforms would be a game-changer for the country’s trade sector. He explained that a reduction in GST rates would boost consumption, which in turn would lead to increased manufacturing and job creation.
Majhi outlined a comprehensive development strategy centered on three key “growth engines”: agriculture, industry, and social development. He emphasized the need for “holistic and inclusive development” that benefits all sectors and categories of people in the state. The government has prepared a “vision document” that he described as a reflection of the collective aspirations of the state’s four and a half crore people.
MSME and Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Minister Shri Gokulanand Mallick, Secretary Skill Development, Shri Bhupendra Singh Punia, ICC DG Dr. Rajiv Singh were present at the event. BJP State President Shri Manmohan Samal, Laghu Udyog Bharati President Shri Gopal Das Agarwal, ICC Chairman Shri Rajib Sekhar Sahoo graced the occasion.
Additional Chief Secretary Industries and I&PR, Shri Hemant Sharma presented the Road Map On Industrialization in Odisha.
The roadmap for “Viksit Odisha 2036” is guided by three main principles:
People First: Placing the people at the center of every policy and program.
Prosperity for All: Achieving overall development to ensure the prosperity of the entire state.
Technology-Led-Development: Adopting modern technology to make Odisha industrially fit for the future.
The Chief Minister also detailed several ongoing and planned infrastructure projects. He mentioned that Odisha is currently undertaking railway projects worth approximately Rs 80,000 crore and highway and road projects exceeding Rs 12,000 crore with support from the Central Government. The government also plans to construct 75,000 km of high-quality roads over the next five years and is working to develop four new ports in addition to the existing three major ports. Additionally, efforts are underway to irrigate about 1.5 million hectares of farmland in the next five years.
Looking toward the future, Shri Majhi said that by 2047, urbanization in Odisha is projected to be 60 percent. To prepare for this, the government is focusing on creating new urban areas, affordable housing, and world-class infrastructure. Cities such as Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Berhampur, and Sambalpur are slated to be developed as models of modern urban infrastructure.
He highlighted the crucial role of the MSME sector as the largest employment generator and an enabler of inclusive economic growth. The government is implementing programs to empower MSMEs through cluster-based development, easy credit provision, and digital platforms for market access.
Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Shri Sampada Chandra Swain and MSME and Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Minister Shri Gokulanand Mallick also spoke at the event. Shri Swain stressed the need for collective effort and hard work to build a healthy society. “We have abundant resources. We have the youth power. We have to utilize them and move forward,” he said.