Odisha CM Majhi launches 'Go East' platform to attract eastern India investors
Synopsis
Odisha is making a deliberate play for eastern India's investment flows. Chief Minister Mohan Majhi's 'Go East' platform — backed by a Special Task Force, a dedicated IPICOL cell, and a real-time digital tracker — signals that Odisha is no longer content to be a mineral supplier and wants to anchor the region's next industrial chapter.
Key Takeaways
CM Mohan Charan Majhi launched the 'Go East' platform on 26 June 2026 at the CII Eastern Regional Council Meeting in Bhubaneswar . 'Go East' stands for Government of Odisha Eastern Investment Accelerator and Special Task Force , targeting investors from eastern and northeastern states.
A 'Go East Cell' within IPICOL and a 'Go Swift' digital monitoring module will be created to fast-track approvals.
Odisha has approved 477 projects worth ₹9.5 lakh crore since June 2024 , expected to create jobs for 6 lakh people .
12 projects worth over ₹3.11 lakh crore are grounded and nearing inauguration.
15 economically backward districts — including Balangir, Kalahandi, and Gajapati — granted 'Thrust Sector' status under amended IPR-2022 .
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday, 26 June 2026, unveiled the 'Go East' initiative — an acronym for Government of Odisha Eastern Investment Accelerator and Special Task Force — at the CII Eastern Regional Council Meeting 2026 in Bhubaneswar, inviting industrial groups from eastern and northeastern states to channel investments into Odisha while retaining their home-market footholds.
What 'Go East' entails
According to an official statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), the platform will be backed by a high-level Special Task Force to fast-track investment clearances. A dedicated 'Go East Cell' will be established within the Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha (IPICOL), and a 'Go Swift' digital module will enable real-time monitoring of approvals and project-tracking processes.
The initiative is designed to direct significant capital into Odisha's border districts, with multiple new industrial growth centres expected to follow. The CMO said the platform will function as a structured bridge for eastern and northeastern investors seeking to expand without abandoning their existing bases.
Key amendments to IPR-2022
Majhi also announced amendments to the Industrial Policy Resolution 2022 (IPR-2022), granting 'Thrust Sector' status to 15 identified districts — including Balangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Kandhamal, Boudh, and Gajapati — which are classified as economically backward regions. The amendment is aimed at fostering non-mineral-based industries in these areas, enabling more balanced regional development across the state.
Odisha's industrial scorecard since June 2024
The Chief Minister cited substantial progress since June 2024: the Odisha government has approved 477 projects worth approximately ₹9.5 lakh crore, projected to generate employment for around 6 lakh people. Of these, 12 projects involving investments exceeding ₹3.11 lakh crore have already been grounded and are reportedly nearing inauguration.
Reforms under 'Deregulation 1.0' and 'Deregulation 2.0' have, according to the government, reduced the time required to establish an industry from roughly 400 days to under 160 days, with a stated target of bringing it below 100 days.
The broader vision: Samruddha Odisha and eastern India's rise
Addressing participants, Majhi said: 'For decades, India's economic growth has largely depended on the western and southern corridors. However, the next major chapter of India's growth story is now being written in eastern India. With abundant mineral resources, strong agricultural potential, a long coastline, and a young and aspirational workforce, the region is poised for rapid growth.'
He added that Odisha aims to align its 'Samruddha Odisha 2036' vision with the national 'Viksit Bharat 2047' framework, positioning the state as the most investor-friendly destination in eastern India within five years. The state is also pivoting beyond its mineral-dependent base toward sectors such as steel, aluminium, chemicals, petrochemicals, semiconductors, and electronics.
Whether the 'Go East' platform translates the approved project pipeline into on-ground jobs at the scale promised will be the defining test of Majhi's industrial agenda in the years ahead.
Point of View
But the real question is structural: Odisha's ₹9.5 lakh crore approved pipeline is an impressive headline, yet the gap between 'approved' and 'grounded' projects — only 12 of 477 are confirmed on-ground — suggests execution remains the bottleneck. Granting 'Thrust Sector' status to 15 backward districts is a welcome corrective to the coastal-industrial concentration, but similar designations in other states have historically attracted paper commitments more than factories. The 'Go Swift' digital module could be the difference-maker if it genuinely compresses approval timelines below 100 days — but only if it has teeth beyond a dashboard.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Odisha's 'Go East' initiative?
'Go East' stands for Government of Odisha Eastern Investment Accelerator and Special Task Force, a platform launched by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on 26 June 2026 to attract industrial investment from eastern and northeastern states. It includes a dedicated cell within IPICOL and a 'Go Swift' digital module for real-time tracking of investment approvals.
How many projects has Odisha approved since June 2024?
The Odisha government has approved 477 projects worth approximately ₹9.5 lakh crore since June 2024, projected to generate employment for around 6 lakh people. Of these, 12 projects involving investments exceeding ₹3.11 lakh crore have been grounded and are reportedly nearing inauguration.
Which districts benefit from the IPR-2022 amendments?
Fifteen districts classified as economically backward — including Balangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Kandhamal, Boudh, and Gajapati — have been granted 'Thrust Sector' status under amendments to the Industrial Policy Resolution 2022. The change is intended to encourage non-mineral-based industries in these regions and promote balanced development.
How has Odisha streamlined industrial approvals?
Through 'Deregulation 1.0' and 'Deregulation 2.0' reforms, Odisha has reduced the time required to establish an industry from around 400 days to under 160 days, according to the government. The stated target is to bring this further below 100 days.
What is 'Samruddha Odisha 2036' and how does it connect to 'Go East'?
'Samruddha Odisha 2036' is Odisha's long-term development vision, which Chief Minister Majhi has aligned with the national 'Viksit Bharat 2047' framework. The 'Go East' platform is positioned as a key instrument to realise that vision by making Odisha the most investor-friendly state in eastern India within five years.
