Abu Dhabi. Telegraph picture
Bhubaneswar, April 12: A business delegation from the state, led by industry minister Debi Prasad Mishra, has visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to woo investments to Odisha, where the process of industrialisation has slackened in the past one year.
The visit comes in the wake of chief minister Naveen Patnaik's participation in the Make in India week in Mumbai in February where he had interacted with captains of industries and invited them to invest in Odisha. Official sources said investment proposals worth Rs 70,000 crore were lined up following the investors' meet organised on the occasion.
During the last week's visit to the UAE, Mishra promoted Odisha as a favoured destination for investment in India. Not only did he hold several meetings and bilateral dialogues with business forums of the UAE, they had a luncheon meeting with the UAE minister for culture, youth and social development Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on April 8. Mishra invited Sheikh to Odisha and briefed him about the government's recent industrial policy with a package of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for the investors and various reforms and policy initiatives.
Sources said potential areas of strategic partnership was discussed with focus on petrochemical and chemical, education, food processing and infrastructure development. Mishra also addressed a gathering of over 300 professionals from the Dubai chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and highlighted the reforms and policy initiatives being undertaken by the state government. A meeting of eminent entrepreneurs, business leaders and investors was also organised at India Club in Dubai. The industries minister highlighted the investment opportunities in Odisha and its strategic location as a gateway to Asian countries.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Invest Bhubaneswar chairman Debasish Patnaik, who was a part of the delegation, said: "The businessmen of UAE were excited after knowing about the strategic location of Odisha, investor-friendly climate and investment potential."
