Highlighting geopolitical instability in West Asia and India’s heavy dependence on imported crude oil, Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati on Wednesday called on MSMEs to promote sustainable mobility and transition to electric vehicles.
Speaking at the 41st Foundation Day celebration and annual state-level convention 2026 of the Odisha Assembly of Small and Medium Enterprises (OASME), the governor noted that adopting sustainable transport would curb dependence on imported fossil fuels, bolster national energy security, and lessen the strain on foreign exchange reserves.
Noting that his own official convoy has already transitioned to electric vehicles, Kambhampati emphasized that shared behavioral shifts can drive sustainable progress and national self-reliance. He further encouraged attendees to adopt rooftop solar installations to generate clean power.
He urged stakeholders to expand entrepreneurship into Odisha’s rural and tribal regions, stressing that balanced growth must empower youth, women, artists, and first-generation entrepreneurs throughout the state.
To ensure young people have viable prospects and smaller towns thrive, enterprise must extend far beyond urban centres, he noted.
“Development must not be measured only by the size of industries or investments, but by the opportunities we create for our people,” the governor said, referring to the goals of Viksit Odisha 2036 and Viksit Bharat 2047.
Characterising MSMEs as a vital force for translating citizen ambitions, Kambhampati highlighted that the sector represents more than just an economic segment – it serves as a primary driver of jobs, livelihoods, and economic prospects.
The real strength of MSMEs lies in spreading commerce past major urban hubs into smaller towns, villages, tribal belts, and aspirational districts, he pointed out.
The governor further said MSMEs also provide a bridge between Odisha’s traditional strengths and modern aspirations by connecting artisans with global markets, agricultural produce with value-added industries and local skills with emerging technologies.
The governor praised Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi for strengthening the state’s MSME ecosystem through measures like interest reimbursements, support for food processing and industrial clusters, and initiatives driving technology uptake and business ownership.
Emphasizing that entrepreneurs should have easy access to capital, tech solutions, training, and commercial channels, Kambhampati urged state government, banks, and industry associations to enhance district-level support, guidance, and local entrepreneurial hubs.
Advocating for the MSME drive to penetrate into Odisha’s interior, the governor underlined the importance of robust local ecosystems, industrial hubs, improved logistics, skill development, credit access, and market integration.
He advised MSMEs to embrace modern machinery, digital tools, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, quality certification and waste reduction to become more productive and sustainable.
Among others, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain, Additional Chief Secretary Hemant Sharma, MSME Secretary Rashmita Panda, NALCO Chairman-cum-Managing Director Bijendra Pratap Singh and OASME secretary general Satwik Swain addressed the occasion.
