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Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday said that the state has become a preferred destination of industries on the strength of its good governance.
"Odisha is steadily becoming a preferred destination of industries on the strength of our good governance and industry friendly atmosphere", said Patnaik at the golden jubilee celebration of the Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI), an apex body of industry representatives in the state.
He said, the state has been able to rope in more than 90 globally reputed investors across sectors like steel, aluminium, cement, power, petroleum and many others.
Patnaik informed that the state government has taken several policy initiatives to catalyse industrial growth.
The Odisha government has formulated the Industrial Policy Resolution, IPR-2007, Odisha MSME Development Policy 2009 and the Odisha Food Processing Policy 2013 to boost industrialisation in the state.
Stating that the state is fast emerging as a hub for education, IT (information technology), software and healthcare facilities and urban infrastructure of international repute, he said, this growth of social sector along with a great cultural heritage and places of tourist interest is also helping in increasing the state's attraction as an investment destination.
"The state, in the recent past, has outperformed many of the leading states by figuring among the top three states in our country in attracting investments", the Chief Minister said. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) report for the year 2012-13 has placed Odisha at the top as it attracted more than Rs 53000 crore investment in that year, which was about 27 percent share of all-states put together.
The Chief Minister exuded confidence that the state's growth rate will be better in the 12th plan.
"During the 11th plan, the state's economy remained consistent at more than nine percent. Odisha delivered superior growth than the national economy and as per estimates, the state is poised to demonstrate even a better growth in the 12th plan period", said Patnaik.
For ensuring the skill development of unemployed rural youths, the state government is in the process of up-gradation of District Employment Exchanges into Career Development Centres in PPP (public private partnership) mode.
Speaking on the occasion, Ramesh Mohapatra, President, UCCI urged the state government to consider the drafting of new IPR (2014) by the industry associations of the state.
"The present IPR is seven years old. Industry associations of Odisha should be asked to draft the IPR which can be modified and amended by the state government to suit the state's budget and policies. By allowing us to do this job, the state government can take the pride in the fact that, for the first time in India, an industry policy of a state has been drafted by the industry bodies," Mohapatra added.
The industry body submitted a six point memorandum to the Chief Minister for his consideration.
