Naveen Patnaik at the 7th Entrepreneurs Week in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, March 5: The Orissa government today claimed the state had attracted investments to the tune of Rs 6 lakh crore in the field of industries and infrastructure. Establishment of large industries had also created opportunities for the micro, small and medium enterprises.

Inaugurating the seventh edition of Entrepreneurs’ Week, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said: “The state has signed MoUs with 89 investors across sectors like steel, aluminium, cement, power, petroleum, petro-chemicals, auto-components. The existence of large manufacturing units in the state creates opportunity for the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector.”

“Orissa has been growing at a rate which is higher than the national average,” chief secretary Bijoy Patnaik said, adding that the state was now aiming to export software products worth Rs 1,000 crore. The second Infocity, an IT hub, which is coming up on the outskirts of the city, would act as an engine of growth, he said, advising the micro, small and medium scale enterprises to take this opportunity.

The state government was also promoting agro and poultry products. A target has been set to produce one crore eggs per day in the next five years, he added.

Later, Naveen also inaugurated the MSME Trade fair organised by the National Small Industries Corporation, in association with state industries department as a part of the celebration of Entrepreneurs Week.

Calling upon the micro, small and medium scale entrepreneurs to play a vital link between rural economy and the industrial sector, Naveen said the MSMEs should look at themselves as not only producers, but also innovators.

Industries Secretary T. Ramachandru explained how the state government was making efforts to provide a congenial atmosphere for the MSME sector.

State planning board member Sarat Sahu said the state government should create an industrial security force in the line of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). “To promote the small scale industries, the state government should set up a tribunal exclusively for MSME and a land bank.”

Rajya Sabha member Pyari Mohan Mohapatra urged the MSME entrepreneurs to take up their cause in united manner.

The MSME Trade fair is being organised with a view to providing broader exposure to Indian micro, small and medium enterprises to facilitate them in exploring new business opportunities in emerging and developing markets.