Bhubaneswar, Nov. 26: Governor M.C. Bhandare today called upon the private sector to partner Odisha’s initiatives for rapid industrialisation and employment generation.
“Odisha, endowed with mineral resources, is yet to achieve the desired economic development. The outreach of development boundaries should be expanded and investment should be brought to the relatively backward areas of the state to make the development more inclusive,” said the governor.
Bhandare was addressing the golden jubilee function of Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys Limited (IMFA), one of the oldest private sector ventures in Odisha.
The governor urged the private industrial houses to take up skill development programmes to address the demand-supply gap of skilled manpower. Stating that development and protection of environment must go side by side, he said: “We must promote green technology to protect environment.”
Lauding the community social responsibility initiatives apart from its significant breakthrough in mineral production, Bhandare said: “I expect more such initiatives.” Speaker of Odisha Assembly Pradip Kumar Amat said IMFA was a forerunner in industrial revolution. “It has also championed the cause of promoting art and culture,” he said.
Founder-cum-chairman of the company Banshidhar Panda called upon younger generation to take up entrepreneurship. “I have an earnest desire to see the younger generation of Odias getting into entrepreneurship. A state like ours, which is so rich in natural resources, can surely achieve even greater success if more people take this plunge,” said octogenarian Panda, who had set up the ferro alloys venture in undivided Koraput district in 1961.
Managing director of the company Subhrakanta Panda said the unit was the largest producer and exporter of value added ferro chrome in India with a production capacity of 2.75 lakh tonnes per annum. “We have now acquired significant competence in mining and power business. Now, the company is targeting a global footprint with acquisition of a coal concession in Indonesia,” he said.
A special award was presented to C.R. Ray, the longest surviving employee of the company, on the occasion. Moreover, several employees were felicitated for their service.