Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan honored leading entrepreneurs and business leaders at the Times Business Award-Odisha ceremony organized by The Times of India.
The event was chaired by Dr. Prabodh Mohanty, SNM Group Managing Director, a prominent industrialist and President of the Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industry Limited (UCCIL).
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, Shri Pradhan described the awardees as wealth creators and a vital source of inspiration for the state. He emphasized that their efforts would help utilize Odisha’s rich natural and human resources to establish a unique identity for the state on the global map.
Reflecting on India’s economic trajectory, the Union Minister noted that the nation has continued to thrive despite global geopolitical instability. He highlighted that while it took from independence in 1947 until 2014 for India to reach a 2 trillion dollar economy, the country added another 2 trillion dollars in just the last decade between 2014 and 2024. He attributed this rapid growth and India’s emergence as the world’s fourth-largest economy to the strong political will and effective leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Shri Pradhan spoke extensively on Odisha’s potential in the modern era, identifying key sectors such as critical minerals, semiconductors, energy, agritech, edutech, fintech, and technical skills for defense. He stated that the state is transitioning from its traditional role of producing steel from iron ore to manufacturing specialty steel and high-quality materials.
The Minister also highlighted Odisha’s central role in the Prime Minister’s Purvodaya initiative, which focuses on the comprehensive development of eastern India. He urged stakeholders to shift from a raw-material-supply model to a knowledge-based economy and manufacturing hub by leveraging the state’s strategic ports, natural resources, and talented workforce.
The ceremony served as a platform to recognize the resilience and success of the business community in driving the state’s economic progress.