The czars of industry joined the investment ‘Juggernaut’ announcing expansion of existing plants, (Vedanta refinery, Tata Steel plant Kalinga Nagar, JSPL Angul, SAIL’s Rourkela Steel Plant), and talking about future plans at the inaugural of the five-day Make in Odisha Conclave here.

Groundbreaking ceremonies for expansion of Tata Steel Kalinga Nagar Plant by Chairman Tata Sons Mr N Chandrasekaran, Vedanta Aluminium Refinery expansion of Anil Agarwal, seafood processing of Falcon Marine Exports were held.

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A MoU for a world-class skill development centre between ITEES Singapore and Odisha Skill Development Authority was the other highlight. Firm investment proposals are to take place over the sectoral sessions spread over five days.

The inaugural session was more in terms of promises and potential. CMD RIL, Mr Mukesh Ambani was futuristic on world turning digital and focussed on Jio but he did not make any firm commitment on investing in the state except was saying already Rs 6000 crore has been invested by his company in the state and another Rs3000 crore will come in.

We are working with Odisha Government on an initiative to integrate several lakh women in the digital mainstream under the ‘Mission Shakti’ Scheme, just like in other states, he said. Our aim is to take the power of Digital Life to every nook and corner of the state, particularly in rural Odisha, he added.

Chairman AB Group, Mr Kumar Mangalam Birla noted Odisha has been the companies topmost investment destination and the entire range of the group from manufacturing and services has a significant presence in the state.

He along with CM Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the companies new Apparel Unit in the city. Mr Anil Agarwal, Chairman Vedanta Resources talked of Kalahandi district and how the company’s presence had transformed the region.

He proposed expansion of the alumina refinery and the university project at Puri.

Mr Natarajan Chandrasekaran proposed the expansion of the Kalinga Nagar steel plant and an investment of Rs 20,000 crore.

He said the potential is such that investment could increase to Rs one lakh crore. Speaking on similar lines JSPL chairman Naveen Jindal said by 2030 investment at the Angul plant of his could be to the order of Rs one lakh crore.

“For the first time in the world we set up a steel plant based on coal gasification. But after de-allocation of the same, it was very challenging for us. JSPL started to put up India’s largest and most modern blast furnace largest sinter plant, coke oven and steel making shop,” he said.

He said that the company will set up a Industrial Park at Angul. His elder brother and chairman of JSW, Mr Sajjan Jindal, Chairman SBI, Mr Rajnish Kumar, Mr Sainjiv Puri MD , ITC and Mr Anil Kumar, SAIL, addressed the inaugural function. Mr Anil Kumar referred to investment of over Rs 41,000 crore in Rourkela Steel Plant.

The Japanese Ambassador to India, Kenji Hiramatsu, said Japan was culturally linked to Odisha and Japanese investment is increasing in the state. Japan is the country partner in the Make in Odisha Conclave.

Mr Chinj Gnee Hing of ITEES Singapore signed a MoU with the skill development authority Odisha and said the centre will develop human capital by setting up a World Skill Centre in Bhubaneswar.

In his speech, (circulated), after he read out a few sentences and preferred to take questions, CM Naveen Patnaik said two-third of the 124 investment intents received in the 2016 Conclave are in various stages of implementation.

“We have laid down the Odisha Industrial Development Plan: Vision 2025 with a target of attracting investment of Rs 2.5 lakh crore and creation of 30 Lakh job opportunities in 6 identified focus sectors by 2025. We have recently launched a progressive Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing Policy to capitalize on the competitive advantages of Odisha’s existing eco-system to attract investment in this high potential sector.” CM added.

“Targeting port-led development, we have been planning a chain of ports along the East Coast Economic Corridor. Apart from Paradip and Dhamra, we are developing deep-water ports at Subarnarekha and Gopalpur, a riverine port on Mahanadi River and a chain of 12 other non-major ports.” CM said.

He announced an excellent infrastructure an 18-storeyed World Skill Centre in Bhubaneswar.

Odisha Skill Development Authority shall manage the World Skill Centre with technical support from ITEES, Singapore.

He spoke of setting up a Greenfield Electronics Manufacturing Cluster and are developing other facilities to provide an enabling environment to support electronics manufacturing and ICT industries.

Odisha has the largest public-private-partnership programme of the country in the Health Sector which caters to all unlike the central government policy which is for the BPL families, he said.

Odisha is on road to becoming the Manufacturing Hub of South Asia. Odisha Chief Secretary, Mr. Aditya Prasad Padhi and principal secretary industries department Mr. Sanjeev Chopra spoke on ease of doing business in the state, the 20-day deadline for clearances and online clearances. They also referred to the right to services act and the land bank created for industries.