In a powerful push to place women at the forefront of Odisha’s economic transformation, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today launched the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) – Odisha Chapter, marking a new era where women will not just participate in development but lead it.
Speaking at the ‘Udyami Odisha MSME’ programme organised to mark International MSME Day at the Lok Seva Bhavan Convention Centre, the Chief Minister said, “We want to build an Odisha where women will not look for jobs but create jobs. They will not remain mere consumers of products but become creators of products. They will not only be stakeholders in development but will lead the development.”
The WEP Odisha Chapter, supported by NITI Aayog, will serve as a single-window platform bringing together Mission Shakti, MSME Department, Startup Odisha, banks and industry bodies to provide women entrepreneurs with financial assistance, market access, mentorship and skill development under one roof.
The Chief Minister also launched the platform’s one-year Action Plan.
Major infrastructure push for MSMEs
Alongside the WEP launch, the Chief Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stones for several key projects aimed at strengthening the state’s industrial ecosystem:
- Rice Milling Cluster in Balasore (₹24.18 crore) – to promote rice bran oil and value-added products.
- Rasagola Cluster in Pahal (₹17.70 crore) – expected to increase daily production capacity from 7,000 kg to 11,000 kg.
- Two Multi-Product MSME Parks — one each in Barpalli (Ganjam) and Kesinga (Kalahandi) — at ₹10 crore each.
The government plans to set up one Multi-Product MSME Park in every district, with upcoming clusters for engineering, printing & packaging, and cashew also in the pipeline.
Impressive growth in women-led enterprises
Highlighting the success of the Subhadra Yojana, which has empowered over one crore women, the Chief Minister shared that the share of women-led enterprises in Odisha has more than doubled — rising sharply from 25% to 53%. The average bank deposits of Subhadra beneficiaries have also increased by ₹6,887.MSMEs currently contribute around 30% to the state’s GDP. Last year, Odisha’s merchandise exports reached ₹95,568 crore. The Chief Minister reiterated the state’s vision to become a $500 billion economy by 2036, with the MSME sector playing a central role.
Leaders hail the initiative
NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Dr Ashok Kumar Lahiri praised Odisha’s strong growth momentum, noting that the state’s GSDP growth rate is higher than the national GDP average and that Odisha has secured the top position in NITI Aayog’s Fiscal Health Index 2026. He described Odisha as a “Dynamic Odisha” rapidly advancing in sunrise sectors.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said the launch heralds “a new chapter” for women, positioning them as pioneers of a Women-Led Economy. MSME Minister Gokulananda Mallik expressed confidence that the initiative would deliver big results for women entrepreneurs by 2036.
The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from thousands of women entrepreneurs from across the state, along with senior officials, MPs and industry leaders.
With the launch of WEP Odisha and the simultaneous rollout of modern industrial infrastructure, the state government has sent a clear message: Odisha’s mothers and daughters are no longer just beneficiaries — they are now the architects of its prosperous future.
