Odisha unveils policy for industries, startups at Make in India week

MUMBAI: With an aim to make Odisha one of the top three investment destinations in India Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik unveiled a 10 year ‘industrial development policy – 2025’ at ‘Make in India’ week on Sunday.

Patnaik said the new policy will help the state attract an investment of 2.25 lakh crore over the next 10 years and create 10 lakh jobs, making the mineral-rich state a manufacturing hub of the east coast.

“It presents a paradigm shift with government acting as an enabler to aid industrial growth. It aims at sustainable manufacturing and employment generation,” said the chief minister.

The policy aims at increasing the ease of doing business by providing infrastructure, land and some funding.

The state is setting up infrastructure development fund of Rs. 100 crore, and has decided to tap the expertise and experience of the private sector for the implementation of industrial townships and parks. Patnaik also said that the state had Odisha had ready-to-use 1 lakh acre land for the industries waiting for appropriate infrastructure.

“Odisha witnessed a robust economic growth of over 8% last year and expects to grow at 12% by 2020. The government’s efforts to expand the industrial base and promote value addition are triggering economic growth,” said Patnaik.

The state government unveiled several e-governance initiatives at the Odisha state seminar at ‘Make in India’. These e-governance websites aim to bring down corruption by reducing physical contact with the bureaucracy, and encouraging transparency by putting out all information on the website. The common inspection platform online synchronizes inspections of 3 departments, while the e-biz platform helps industries get approval, make payment and seek renewal from 14 state departments online.

The Odisha government is also working on a policy that will aid and encourage startups in the state. The state has roped in home-grown entrepreneur and founder of Oyo Rooms Ritesh Agarwal to assist it in formulating the policy.

“Recognizing the importance of new economic industries my government is coming up with attractive investment framework. The government is finalizing new startup policy to boost startup ecosystem in the state,” said Patnaik.

To provide fillip to startup ecosystem and make Bhubaneshwar a startup hub Odisha will give 4.5 lakh square feet ready-to move facility to startups in the capital city.