The Chief Minister's Office of Odisha announced on Friday, 26 June 2026 that Chief Minister Mohan Majhi attended the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Eastern Regional Council meeting 2026 and unveiled a new platform called 'Go East' aimed at accelerating industrialisation across eastern Indian states, alongside a major amendment to the state's industrial policy.

At the event, CM Majhi presented what the Chief Minister's Office described as 'ଏକ ନୂଆ ରୋଡ୍‌ମ୍ୟାପ୍‌' (a new roadmap) for industrial development and regional growth in Odisha, while simultaneously announcing the 'Go East' platform as a landmark initiative to broadly accelerate the industrialisation process across eastern India's states.

Context

The CII Eastern Regional Council is a key forum where industry leaders, state governments, and policymakers from eastern India converge to chart investment and growth strategies. CM Majhi's participation signals Odisha's intent to position itself as the anchor state for eastern India's industrial resurgence. The Chief Minister expressed confidence that within the next 5 years, Odisha would emerge as the leading state in eastern India in terms of industrialisation and growth.

He also called on all industry groups to partner in Odisha's progress and work collectively toward building 'Viksit Bharat 2047' — the national vision for a developed India by the centenary of independence.

Policy Backdrop

A significant amendment to the Odisha Industrial Policy was announced at the meeting. Under the revised policy, 15 districts — including Balangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Kandhamal, Boudh, and Gajapati — have been granted 'Thrust Sector' status. The Chief Minister stated this designation would accelerate the development of non-mineral-based industries and promote balanced regional growth across these historically underdeveloped areas.

Odisha's industrial policy has evolved significantly since the Industrial Policy Resolution of 2015 and the launch of the Make in Odisha Conclave series from 2016 onwards, which have collectively drawn large-scale investments into the state. The latest amendment marks a deliberate pivot away from mineral-dependent growth toward manufacturing and services in southern and western districts.

Stakeholders and Impact

The 'Thrust Sector' designation for the 15 districts is expected to unlock targeted incentive packages for non-mineral industries, directly benefiting investors looking beyond Odisha's established coastal and mineral-belt corridors. Residents of districts such as Kalahandi, Nuapada, and Gajapati — long identified among the state's most economically lagging regions — stand to gain from new employment and enterprise opportunities.

The 'Go East' platform, if operationalised with partner states, could create a coordinated investment ecosystem spanning West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Odisha, aligning with central government infrastructure corridors already active in the region. CM Majhi noted that Odisha's industrialisation process had already reached a broad scale over the past 2 years.

What's Next

The immediate focus will be on the rollout of specific incentive structures for the 15 newly designated Thrust Sector districts and follow-up investment commitments catalysed through the 'Go East' platform. Industry groups have been directly invited by the Chief Minister to engage with the state's growth agenda. Whether the 'Go East' framework draws formal participation from neighbouring eastern states will be a key indicator of its regional ambition translating into concrete policy coordination.