Bhubaneswar: Odisha govt brought together not only leading industrialists but also their millennial and Gen Z successors for a closed-door meeting with CM Mohan Charan Majhi at Kalinganagar on Wednesday, ensuring the state’s engagement extends to the future custodians of corporate India.Chief secretary Anu Garg said it was important for the next generation of business leaders to be familiar with Odisha’s business-friendly ecosystem so that, during future leadership transitions, they retain clarity and confidence about the state as an investment destination.Additional chief secretary (industries) Hemant Sharma said industrialists and investors were specifically encouraged to bring their younger generation to the meeting so they could gain early exposure to Odisha’s resources, policies and leadership.Representatives of 46 companies attended the closed-door boardroom interaction with the chief minister before he inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects worth more than Rs 39,000 crore, including Rs 900-crore greenfield ferro chrome project of Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys Ltd (IMFA) at Kalinganagar.During the event, Majhi felicitated industrial leaders, many of whom were accompanied by members of their next-generation leadership teams.Among them was IMFA managing director (MD) Subhrakant Panda, who was honoured as ‘Pride of Odisha’, accompanied by his daughter, Raisah Ila. “I feel privileged to attend the inauguration of IMFA’s greenfield ferro chrome project at Kalinganagar, an important milestone that takes the company’s total capacity to more than five lakh tonnes per annum. It will also create opportunities for local youth to contribute to the company’s growth while benefiting Odisha’s economy,” she said.Jindal Stainless Ltd MD Abhyuday Jindal, son of chairman Ratan Jindal, represented the group as the chief minister unveiled projects worth Rs 14,039 crore, including the commissioning of a Rs 5,000-crore steel melt shop.“This is a proud moment for my entire family, and we recognise the responsibility that comes with this investment and our commitment to making it count. The facility represents an investment of over Rs 5,000 crore, with a 2.2 MTPA steel melt shop at its heart. It reflects JSL’s focus on building integrated, resource-efficient and future-ready manufacturing capabilities aligned with India’s industrial and infrastructure growth trajectory. Ultimately, the true measure of this project will lie in what follows: consistently producing quality steel and creating opportunities in Odisha,” he posted on X.Among others, Jatia Steel MD Punit Jatia was joined by his son Utkarsh during the groundbreaking ceremony for the company’s Rs 800-crore projects.
