CM Majhi Launches MSME Parks, WEP Odisha Chapter on MSME Day
Synopsis
On International MSME Day, Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi launched two Multi-Product MSME Parks in Ganjam and Kalahandi, a Rice Milling Cluster in Baleshwar, and the WEP Odisha Chapter with NITI Aayog, while laying the foundation for a Rasgola Cluster at Pahala — all aimed at a $500 billion state economy by 2036.
Key Takeaways
Two Multi-Product MSME Parks inaugurated in Ganjam and Kalahandi districts on 27 June 2026 .
A Rice Milling Cluster in Baleshwar and a Rasgola Cluster foundation stone at Pahala were also part of the Udyami Odisha event.
The WEP — Odisha Chapter , developed with NITI Aayog , was launched to convert self-reliant women into job-creating entrepreneurs.
The Subhadra Yojana has already benefited more than one crore women in Odisha.
Collateral-free credit via Credit Guarantee schemes is being extended to Odisha's youth to lower barriers to entrepreneurship.
CM Majhi set a target of taking Odisha's economy to $500 billion by 2036 .
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday, 27 June 2026 attended the 'Udyami Odisha' programme at Lok Seva Bhavan, Bhubaneswar, marking International MSME Day with a series of infrastructure launches and a new platform for women entrepreneurs.
Context
The event saw the inauguration of two Multi-Product MSME Parks in Ganjam and Kalahandi districts, along with a Rice Milling Cluster in Baleshwar. A foundation stone was also laid for a Rasgola Cluster at Pahala — the town historically associated with the origin of the iconic sweet — signalling the state's push to formalise and scale its regional food products.
In his post, Chief Minister Majhi stated that the government is working continuously to 'vishwastareey kariba' (make world-class) the state's regional products by strengthening industrial infrastructure and extending collateral-free credit to youth through Credit Guarantee-backed schemes.
Policy Backdrop
The launches align with the central government's Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE), which has provided collateral-free loans to MSMEs since 2000 and was significantly expanded under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative from 2020 onwards. CM Majhi credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guidance as the cornerstone of the state's MSME development strategy.
Also launched at the event was the Odisha State Women Entrepreneur Platform (WEP — Odisha Chapter), developed in partnership with NITI Aayog. The platform is designed to transition women who have achieved basic financial self-reliance into job-creating entrepreneurs. NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Dr. Ashok Kumar Lahiri was present at the event, and CM Majhi extended his gratitude for the institution's collaboration.
Stakeholders and Impact
The Subhadra Yojana, the state's flagship women's welfare scheme, has already enabled more than one crore women to achieve financial self-reliance. The new WEP platform is intended to build on that foundation by providing these women with mentorship, networks, and access to capital to scale into formal enterprises.
For Odisha's youth, collateral-free credit backed by the Credit Guarantee mechanism addresses a critical barrier to entrepreneurship, particularly in districts like Kalahandi and Ganjam that have historically faced economic marginalisation. The MSME parks in these districts are expected to generate local employment and anchor supply chains around existing artisanal and agricultural produce.
The Baleshwar Rice Milling Cluster targets one of Odisha's largest agri-processing sectors, aiming to add value to paddy output and improve farmer and miller incomes. The Pahala Rasgola Cluster seeks to protect and commercialise a product with strong Geographical Indication (GI) credentials, potentially opening export corridors.
What's Next
CM Majhi called on all stakeholders to work collectively toward taking Odisha's economy to $500 billion by 2036, framing the day's announcements as steps toward a 'Samridha Odisha, Vikasit Bharat' (Prosperous Odisha, Developed India). The immediate milestones to watch will be the first-unit operationalisation of the newly inaugurated MSME parks and the district-level rollout of the WEP-Odisha Chapter across the state.
Point of View
Signalling Odisha's intent to move from a welfare-first to an enterprise-first development narrative. The choice of Ganjam and Kalahandi — historically among Odisha's most economically stressed districts — for the MSME parks carries political weight, demonstrating that the BJP-led government is targeting its industrial push at constituencies that have long felt left behind. The WEP-NITI Aayog partnership is notable for channelling the momentum of the Subhadra Yojana's one-crore beneficiary base into a formal entrepreneurship pipeline, which, if executed, could materially shift women's economic participation metrics in the state. The $500 billion GDP target by 2036 is an ambitious anchor that will be tested against the pace at which these parks and clusters become operationally productive.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Udyami Odisha programme?
'Udyami Odisha' is a state government initiative to promote MSME growth in Odisha, under which industrial parks, clusters, and entrepreneur-support platforms are launched. The 27 June 2026 event at Lok Seva Bhavan, Bhubaneswar, marked International MSME Day with multiple infrastructure launches.
Where are the new MSME parks in Odisha located?
Two Multi-Product MSME Parks were inaugurated in Ganjam and Kalahandi districts of Odisha on 27 June 2026 as part of the Udyami Odisha programme.
What is the WEP Odisha Chapter?
The Odisha State Women Entrepreneur Platform (WEP — Odisha Chapter) is a platform launched in partnership with NITI Aayog to help women transition from financial self-reliance to becoming job-creating entrepreneurs, building on the foundation laid by the Subhadra Yojana.
What is the Pahala Rasgola Cluster?
The Pahala Rasgola Cluster is an MSME cluster whose foundation stone was laid at Pahala, a town near Bhubaneswar historically associated with the Rasgola sweet, to formalise and scale production of the GI-tagged product.
What is Odisha's GDP target for 2036?
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has set a target of growing Odisha's economy to $500 billion by 2036 , framing it as part of the broader 'Vikasit Bharat' (Developed India) vision.
