Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi attended the closing ceremony of the “Viksit Odisha Summit” organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Laghu Udyog Bharati, emphasising the state’s ambition to rank among India’s top five developed states.
Speaking at a discussion on “Strengthening Odisha’s Growth Engine,” the Chief Minister outlined a comprehensive roadmap for achieving inclusive development through agriculture, industry, and social progress.
Majhi expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the upcoming GST reforms, set to be implemented next month, which he described as a game-changer for India’s business landscape. “Lower GST rates will boost consumption, leading to increased manufacturing and job creation,” he stated. The state government has identified agriculture, industry, and social development as key growth engines to drive Odisha’s progress.
The Chief Minister highlighted Odisha’s rich mineral resources and ongoing efforts to transform the state into a manufacturing hub. Focus areas include mining, metals, chemicals, petrochemicals, IT, startups, agriculture, food processing, tourism, and MSMEs. “Our development will be inclusive, not limited to any specific sector or group,” Majhi emphasised, unveiling the Vision 2036 document as a collective aspiration of Odisha’s 4.5 crore people.
To achieve a prosperous Odisha, Majhi stressed the need for self-reliance in education, healthcare, and agriculture, alongside world-class infrastructure. The state aims to create skilled human resources, ample employment opportunities, and leadership in technology, tourism, and green energy. The roadmap for Viksit Odisha 2036 is built on three pillars: **People First**, ensuring policies prioritise citizens; **Prosperity for All**, fostering holistic growth; and **Technology-Led Development**, embracing modern technology for industrial advancement.
Significant infrastructure projects are underway, including railway projects worth over ₹80,000 crore, road projects exceeding ₹12,000 crore, and the recently announced ₹8,308 crore Capital Region Ring Road. The state plans to construct 75,000 km of high-quality roads and irrigate 15 lakh hectares of farmland in the next five years. Additionally, four new ports will complement Odisha’s existing three major ports, enhancing maritime infrastructure.
By 2047, Odisha aims to achieve 60% urbanisation, with cities like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Berhampur, and Sambalpur being developed as modern urban hubs. The MSME sector, a key employment driver, will be strengthened through cluster-based development, easy credit access, and digital platforms for market reach.
Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain echoed the Chief Minister’s vision, stressing the need for collective effort and hard work to build a healthy, developed society. “Odisha has abundant resources and youth power. With proper utilisation, our dream of a developed Odisha is achievable,” he said.
The event saw participation from MSME, Fisheries, and Animal Husbandry Minister Gokulananda Mallik, Principal Secretary Bhupendra Singh Poonia, BJP State President Manmohan Samal, ICC Director General Dr. Rajeev Singh, Laghu Udyog Bharati President Gopal Das Agrawal, and ICC President Rajeev Sahu.
