Bhubaneswar: Positioning Odisha as India’s next big industrial growth story, CM Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday courted UAE investors with a promise of faster clearances, world-class infrastructure and a ₹22 lakh crore investment pipeline, declaring that the mineral-rich state was ready to emerge from the shadows of traditional industrial powerhouses and become a global manufacturing hub.Addressing the Odisha Investors’ Meet-UAE 2026 in Dubai, Majhi said Odisha, despite its vast reserves of iron ore, bauxite, chromite and manganese, had for decades failed to translate its natural wealth into large-scale industrial growth and jobs. “When people speak of India’s industrial states, they name Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. But there is a new name now – Odisha,” he said.Pitching Odisha as one of India’s most investor-friendly destinations, Majhi said his govt had streamlined approvals through a single-window clearance system, industrial land banks, labour reforms and a new industrial policy. The state, he said, attracted investment intents worth more than ₹17 lakh crore during the Utkarsh Odisha conclave in Jan 2025 and another ₹5 lakh crore through subsequent roadshows, taking the total investment pipeline to ₹22 lakh crore.Majhi said the govt has already approved over 520 industrial projects worth nearly ₹10 lakh crore, capable of generating more than six lakh jobs. Of these, 152 projects worth ₹3.1 lakh crore have either commenced construction or gone into production. Calling it a “new chapter” in Odisha’s industrial journey, he said the state was moving from being merely a supplier of raw materials to becoming a value-added manufacturing hub. “We want Odisha’s minerals to become Odisha’s products,” he said.Highlighting the state’s infrastructure push, Majhi said Odisha spends 6.5% of its GSDP on infrastructure, among the highest in the country, with nearly a quarter of the budget earmarked for roads, ports, industrial parks, universities, research centres and healthcare facilities. He added that the time required to set up an industry has been reduced from around 400 days to less than 160 days, with a target of bringing it below 100 days.Describing Odisha and the UAE as natural economic partners, Majhi said the emirate offers capital, technology and global market access, while Odisha provides resources, ports, manufacturing strength and proximity to major markets.He identified green metals, renewable energy, green hydrogen, green ammonia, semiconductors, logistics and tourism as key areas for collaboration. Referring to the proposed ₹2.10 lakh crore ($22.13 billion) aluminium project by International Holding Company (IHC) and the Adani Group, he said it could create more than 53,000 jobs and become a landmark India-UAE partnership.Inviting sovereign wealth funds, private investors, family offices and technology firms to Odisha, Majhi promised policy stability, speedy clearances and direct monitoring of projects by his office. He also held an industry roundtable with representatives of the Bureau of Middle East Recycling (BMR) Association and JSW Group and interacted with members of the Odia diaspora in the UAE. “Come and build in Odisha. Invest in Odisha. Invest in the future,” Majhi said.
