Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday, 14 October 2025, inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 46 medium and large industrial projects worth ₹39,383 crore spread across 14 districts of the state, describing the occasion as a 'golden chapter' in Odisha's second industrial revolution. The event was held at the Kalinganagar industrial area in Jajpur district, and the projects are expected to generate 42,512 jobs, according to officials.

What Was Launched and Where

The 46 projects are distributed across Anugola, Bargada, Baleshwar, Boudh, Kataka, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Kendujhar, Khordha, Mayurbhanj, Puri, Sambalpur and Sundargada districts. Chief Minister Majhi emphasised that industrial development must not remain concentrated in a handful of districts, signalling a deliberate push toward geographic diversification of investment.

The sectors being prioritised include textiles and garments, food processing and pharmaceuticals — all labour-intensive industries — as part of the state government's stated goal of curbing distress migration of Odia youth to other states in search of employment.

What the Chief Minister Said

Addressing the gathering, Majhi said, 'The launch of industrial projects across Odisha on this auspicious day marked a golden chapter in the state's second industrial revolution. Before our government came to power, industrial investment had remained merely a slogan and a means of publicity. But we have translated every Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) into reality, built factories, started production and succeeded in employing our Odia sons and daughters.'

Majhi also called on industries to increase employment opportunities for women, specifically in textiles, electronics and IT services, and reiterated the government's commitment to supporting investors 'throughout the project life cycle, from proposal submission to project implementation.'

Cumulative Industrial Push: Over ₹3.5 Lakh Crore Grounded

With Wednesday's additions, the total value of industrial projects grounded in Odisha has crossed ₹3.5 lakh crore. In under two years, the state government has inaugurated or laid the foundation stones for 151 projects involving investments of more than ₹3.11 lakh crore, creating employment prospects for over 2.4 lakh people, Majhi stated.

Cumulatively, 560 industrial proposals involving investments exceeding ₹12.07 lakh crore have been approved, with the potential to generate around 7 lakh jobs, he added. This positions the current administration's industrial outreach as one of the most expansive in the state's post-liberalisation history.

Purvodaya Vision and the $500 Billion Economy Target

Majhi linked Odisha's industrial momentum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Purvodaya vision — a framework aimed at accelerating development across eastern India. The state government, he said, is working toward building a 'Samruddha Odisha' by expanding the state's economy to $500 billion over the next 10 years.

Notably, Odisha has secured second position nationally in attracting investments, according to a NITI Aayog index — a ranking Majhi cited as evidence of investor confidence in the state's business environment. This comes amid an intensifying competition among Indian states to attract manufacturing and infrastructure capital in the post-pandemic investment cycle.

Political Context

Taking a swipe at opposition parties, Majhi said his government was focused on Odisha's progress while critics were 'busy with politics.' The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government, which came to power earlier in 2024, has made industrial groundbreaking ceremonies a visible part of its governance narrative, repeatedly contrasting its approach with that of the previous administration. All eyes will now be on the pace of actual project completion and verified job creation against the announced targets.