Mumbai: As Odisha aggressively pitches its vision for a globally connected blue economy at Maritime Week 2025, Principal Secretary of the Commerce and Transport Department, Smt. Usha Padhee, has been recognized as a key figure in creating a conducive atmosphere for investments in the state’s burgeoning port sector.
Smt. Padhee, who was present alongside Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi at the inauguration of the Odisha Pavilion at NESCO Grounds, Mumbai, has been instrumental in translating the government’s “progressive port policy” into tangible opportunities for private investors. Her efforts have focused on streamlining regulatory processes, ensuring policy consistency, and facilitating the integrated development of ports and their surrounding industrial ecosystems.
“Odisha’s strategic location along the Eastern Maritime Corridor and its rich coastal heritage are assets,” a senior official noted, “but it is the administrative focus on ease of doing business, spearheaded by the Commerce and Transport Department under Smt. Padhee, that is truly attracting domestic and international port operators and logistics companies.”
The State’s pavilion, which showcases the journey from ancient Kalinga’s seafaring prowess to modern strides in trade connectivity, serves as a testament to the department’s work in highlighting both tradition and the future-ready infrastructure being developed. The successful engagement with industry leaders at Maritime Week is expected to further solidify Odisha’s position as a premier maritime hub, directly benefiting from the investment climate fostered by Smt. Padhee and her Team.