Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is travelling to Mumbai on Wednesday, 22 October 2026, to attend India Chem 2026 — India's flagship biennial event for the chemicals and petrochemicals industry — with a focused agenda of attracting fresh investments and positioning Odisha as an emerging industrial destination in the sector. The two-day event begins on Thursday, 23 October.

What CM Majhi Will Do at India Chem 2026

Chief Minister Majhi is scheduled to participate in the inaugural session and the CEO Roundtable, which will be chaired by Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers J.P. Nadda, according to an official state government statement. Beyond the formal sessions, the Chief Minister is also scheduled to hold one-to-one meetings with representatives of more than 20 major companies from the chemical and petrochemical industries. These discussions will cover potential investments, industrial expansion, downstream manufacturing, and opportunities to establish new industrial ventures in Odisha.

Key Investment Pitches: Chemical Park and Coal Gasification

A standout element of Odisha's participation will be a presentation on a coal gasification project, which the state government describes as an emerging area of industrial opportunity. Separately, the state is also reportedly likely to announce the establishment of a dedicated, large-scale chemical industrial park aimed at strengthening the industrial ecosystem and attracting investments across chemical, petrochemical, plastics, and packaging segments. While no formal announcement has been confirmed yet, the proposed park is expected to be a centrepiece of Odisha's pitch to investors.

Odisha Among Five States Competing for Attention

Odisha will participate alongside Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu at India Chem 2026, reflecting the increasingly competitive landscape among Indian states vying for chemical and petrochemical investments. Established hubs such as Maharashtra and Gujarat have built their positions over several decades, and Odisha is seeking to leverage its resource base in mining and metallurgy as a launchpad for downstream chemical industries — a differentiated pitch centred on value addition from raw material advantage.

What Officials Said

Hemant Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary of the Industries department, described the participation as a strategic step. 'Odisha has a strong industrial foundation, and we are now focused on expanding our presence in high-potential sectors such as chemicals and petrochemicals. Our participation at India Chem 2026 will provide an opportunity to engage directly with leading companies, present the state's investment opportunities and explore partnerships for future growth,' he said.

Sharma also highlighted the infrastructure underpinning the pitch: 'With our industrial infrastructure, progressive policies and resource advantages, we are working to build a competitive ecosystem for chemical and petrochemical industries. The proposed dedicated large chemical industrial park and our focus on coal gasification will further strengthen this effort and open up new avenues for investment, value addition and employment generation,' he added.

Why This Matters for Odisha's Industrial Ambitions

Odisha's push at India Chem 2026 is consistent with a broader state-level strategy to diversify beyond its traditional strengths in mining and metallurgy. The state's participation signals intent to climb the value chain — from raw material extraction to higher-value chemical and petrochemical manufacturing. This comes amid intensifying competition among Indian states for industrial investment, with the chemical sector increasingly seen as a key driver of manufacturing employment and export growth at a national level.