Bhubaneswar/Rourkela: Investment proposals worth over Rs 52,000 crore with potential to generate more than 20,000 jobs were announced at the ‘Enterprise Odisha 2026’ event in Rourkela on Wednesday, underscoring growing investor confidence in western Odisha. The event also saw chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurate and lay foundation stones for projects totalling Rs 8,884 crore.At the Rourkela event, 11 industrial projects with a combined investment of Rs 5,708 crore were inaugurated, generating employment for 4,183 people, while nine projects worth Rs 3,176 crore were grounded, creating jobs for 2,649 individuals. During his two-day tour of western Odisha, the CM unveiled projects involving investments of around Rs 35,000 crore. He had earlier launched projects worth nearly Rs 27,000 crore in Sambalpur.
Addressing the Rourkela event, Majhi said western Odisha was no longer the “next frontier” of growth but had emerged as a core engine of the state’s development. “The silver jubilee edition of Enterprise Odisha represents a new way of thinking for us. We aspire to be the best in every sector and compete with the best,” he said.The event saw participation from leading companies, including Tata Steel, MCL, JSW, Vedanta, Dalmia Cement, SAIL, AM/NS and the Rourkela Chamber of Commerce, among others. Over 500 delegates attended the event, marking a significant milestone in the industrial growth journey of the region.Referring to the theme ‘Odisha: Best Place to Live, Work and Do Business’, Majhi stressed that economic expansion must go hand in hand with improvements in the quality of life. “Industrial development must create jobs, raise living standards and ensure that ease of doing business is matched with ease of living,” he said.Outlining the state’s industrial strategy, Majhi said the govt aims to develop anchor industries in each region while nurturing hundreds of associated MSMEs as suppliers and service providers. “This will ensure that our youth no longer need to migrate for jobs; opportunities will reach their doorstep,” he added.During his Rourkela visit, Majhi participated in three key roundtable discussions — with the chamber, Orissa Sponge Iron Manufacturing Association (OSIMA) and delegations from Ranchi and Raipur — highlighting the growing Raipur-Ranchi-Rourkela (RRR) corridor and enhanced regional collaboration.As a result of these deliberations, 22 MoUs worth Rs 43,349 crore, with an employment potential of 18,985, were signed, while five investment intents worth Rs 8,677 crore proposing 1,442 jobs were received.Majhi also handed over a land allotment letter for 1,447.927 acres at Kamakhyanagar in Dhenkanal to Vedanta Aluminium for its proposed 3 MTPA aluminium smelter and 4,900 MW captive power plant. The allotment, approved by the 41st high-level clearance authority, marks a crucial step toward fast-tracking the project’s implementation.Industries, skill development and technical education minister Sampad Chandra Swain said ‘Enterprise Odisha’ was focused on execution. “Investor interest has already translated into MoUs and project intents. Our priority is to move swiftly from land allocation to grounding and production, particularly in downstream manufacturing and metal ancillaries across western Odisha,” he said.Emphasising workforce preparedness, Swain added that targeted skilling and institutional upgrades are being aligned with industry demand to ensure that industrial growth remains employment-led and future-ready.
