In a significant push to attract capital, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday announced that the state has secured Rs 41,748 crore in investment commitments from 27 companies in the food processing sector.
The companies signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) during an investors’ meet organised jointly by the state government and industry body Assocham.
“The MoUs signed today, worth Rs 31,648 crore with 22 companies in the food processing sector, reflect this clear momentum,” Majhi noted while highlighting state-led initiatives to boost sectoral investments.
An official statement released later revised the MoU commitment total to Rs 41,748 crore, while outlining an additional Rs 1,689 crore investment proposed via 12 Investment Intent Forms (IIFs).
By the end of the first day, the state had accumulated investment proposals totalling Rs 43,437 crore, with the potential to generate 43,316 jobs.
Expanding on the initiative, the Chief Minister noted that while Odisha’s industrial identity was historically built on mining and minerals, the state government is actively expanding into four focus sectors, including food and agro-processing.
He said the sector as a top priority due to its direct impact on agricultural incomes, with the government promoting food processing across all districts and a dedicated policy in place to incentivise investors.
Majhi also cited Odisha’s ranking among the top five states in NITI Aayog’s investment-friendliness index, reaffirming the state’s goal to make its business framework more accessible.
Detailing the state’s business strategy, CM Majhi outlined the focus going forward would be on four to five areas – expanding the range of crops and products, scaling up cold chains and logistics, strengthening warehousing and processing infrastructure, and linking MSMEs, cooperatives, and women’s self-help groups engaged in food processing with larger companies.
State Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain emphasized Odisha’s vast untapped potential in food processing, promising investors of “seamless grounding and commissioning”.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg stated that Odisha is positioning itself as a high-growth state, aiming to scale its current $130 billion economy to $500 billion by 2036 and $1.5 trillion by 2047.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg stated that Odisha is positioning itself as a mid-income, high-growth state, aiming to scale its current $130 billion economy to $500 billion by 2036 and $1.5 trillion by 2047.
She explained that the state is promoting its EDGE framework—Economy, Demography, Geography, and Ecosystem – supported by strong fiscal health and high capital expenditure to guarantee sustained infrastructure growth and delivered incentives.
Garg added that industrial expansion is closely tied to employment goals, targeting 1 crore non-farm jobs by 2047 with food processing and marine products designated as priority drivers.
Leveraging strong foundations across agriculture, livestock, and marine resources, Odisha is rolling out dedicated Deep Sea Fishing and Shrimp Export missions to raise seafood exports from Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 25,000 crore.
Garg added that with the support from FPOs, SHGs, cooperatives, food companies and institutional partners, such as the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and Norway on marine spatial planning, the state government is inviting investors to “come and stay” in Odisha as partners in its growth roadmap.
Additional Chief Secretary Hemant Sharma and Assocham President Nirmal Kumar Minda were also present at the event.
