Odisha CM launches 'Go East' investment platform to draw eastern India capital
Synopsis
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi has launched 'Go East' — a dedicated investment accelerator targeting eastern and northeastern India's industrial groups — backed by a Special Task Force, a new IPICOL cell, and amendments to IPR-2022 that grant 'Thrust Sector' status to 15 backward districts. With ₹9.5 lakh crore in approved projects and a regulatory clock cut from 400 to under 160 days, Odisha is making its most structured bid yet to become eastern India's industrial anchor.
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' real-time monitoring module will be set up to track investment approvals.
Amendments to IPR-2022 will grant 'Thrust Sector' status to 15 economically backward districts , including Balangir, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal.
Since June 2024 , Odisha has approved 477 projects worth ₹9.5 lakh crore , projected to employ around 6 lakh people .
Industry establishment time has been cut from 400 days to under 160 days , with a target of below 100 days .
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday, 26 June 2026, unveiled the 'Go East' platform — short 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. The initiative marks a significant policy pivot, positioning the state as the primary investment destination in eastern India over the next five years.
What the 'Go East' Platform Entails
According to an official statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), the 'Go East' framework is designed to let industrial groups from eastern and northeastern states invest in Odisha without abandoning their existing bases and home-state markets. A high-level Special Task Force will be constituted under the policy to fast-track investment projects.
Additionally, a dedicated 'Go East Cell' will be established within IPICOL (Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha Limited), and a specialised 'Go Swift' module will be developed for real-time monitoring and tracking of investment approvals and processes.
Key Amendments to IPR-2022
Majhi also announced significant amendments to the Industrial Policy Resolution 2022 (IPR-2022). The changes are aimed at creating opportunities for non-mineral-based industries in 15 identified districts, including Balangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Kandhamal, Boudh, and Gajapati — regions historically classified as economically backward.
These districts will be accorded 'Thrust Sector' status, a classification intended to enable balanced regional development and direct investment flows to Odisha's border and interior districts, leading to the establishment of multiple new industrial growth centres.
Industrial Progress and Investment Figures
The Chief Minister highlighted that since June 2024, the Odisha government has approved 477 projects worth approximately ₹9.5 lakh crore, expected to generate employment for around 6 lakh people. Of these, 12 projects with investments exceeding ₹3.11 lakh crore have already been grounded and are reportedly nearing inauguration.
Majhi also pointed to regulatory reforms — 'Deregulation 1.0' and 'Deregulation 2.0' — which have reportedly reduced the time required to establish industries from around 400 days to fewer than 160 days, with a stated target of bringing it below 100 days.
The Broader Vision: Beyond Minerals
Majhi argued that India's economic growth has historically been concentrated along western and southern corridors, and that eastern India is now poised to write the next chapter. He noted that Odisha's combination of mineral resources, agricultural potential, a long coastline, and a young workforce positions it uniquely for rapid industrialisation.
The state is also looking to move beyond a mineral-dependent economy, with a focus on future-oriented sectors such as steel, aluminium, chemicals, petrochemicals, semiconductors, and electronics. Majhi linked the state's ambitions to both 'Samruddha Odisha 2036' and the national 'Viksit Bharat 2047' framework.
What Comes Next
The constitution of the Special Task Force and the operationalisation of the 'Go East Cell' within IPICOL are expected to follow in the coming weeks. With 12 large projects nearing inauguration and a pipeline of nearly ₹9.5 lakh crore in approved investments, the immediate test will be whether the state can sustain implementation momentum and attract fresh eastern capital under the new platform.
Point of View
But the real test lies in execution, not nomenclature. The state's claim of ₹9.5 lakh crore in approved projects is substantial, yet 'approved' and 'grounded' are very different milestones — only 12 projects have actually broken ground. The thrust-sector designation for 15 backward districts is a meaningful structural move, but these regions have historically struggled to attract private capital regardless of policy status. Whether a Special Task Force can overcome infrastructure deficits and land acquisition bottlenecks that have long deterred investors in interior Odisha remains the central question this announcement leaves unanswered.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Odisha's 'Go East' platform?
'Go East' stands for Government of Odisha Eastern Investment Accelerator and Special Task Force, a policy initiative launched by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on 26 June 2026 to attract industrial investment from eastern and northeastern states into Odisha. It includes a dedicated IPICOL cell and a 'Go Swift' module for real-time tracking of investment approvals.
Which districts get 'Thrust Sector' status under the IPR-2022 amendments?
Fifteen economically backward districts, including Balangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Kandhamal, Boudh, and Gajapati, will be accorded 'Thrust Sector' status under the amended Industrial Policy Resolution 2022. The designation is intended to direct non-mineral-based industrial investment toward these historically underserved regions.
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, expected to generate employment for around 6 lakh people. Of these, 12 projects with investments exceeding ₹3.11 lakh crore have been grounded and are reportedly nearing inauguration.
How has Odisha streamlined its industrial approval process?
Through 'Deregulation 1.0' and 'Deregulation 2.0' reforms, Odisha has reportedly reduced the time required to establish industries from around 400 days to fewer than 160 days. The government has set a further target of bringing this below 100 days.
What sectors is Odisha targeting beyond minerals?
Odisha is actively pursuing investment in steel, aluminium, chemicals, petrochemicals, semiconductors, and electronics as part of a deliberate shift away from mineral dependency. Chief Minister Majhi framed this diversification as aligned with both 'Samruddha Odisha 2036' and the national 'Viksit Bharat 2047' vision.
