Odisha has attracted $50-billion (Rs 3,75,000-crore) investment in the last two years despite the Covid-19 pandemic, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Odisha Investors’ Meet in Dubai, organised by the FICCI and the Embassy of India in UAE on Wednesday.

Patnaik said Odisha holds the lion’s share of India’s mineral reserves with 96 per cent of the country’s chromite reserves, 92% nickel, 53% bauxite, 45% manganese, 35% iron ore, and 23% coal reserves of India.

This has made Odisha the largest producer of steel, stainless steel, ferro alloys, alumina, and aluminium in India. Odisha also has 11% of India’s water resources. The State has a 480-km long coastline making it a natural choice for setting up ports, and for international trade,

He said the State is home to a large and highly skilled workforce and 11 of India’s top 100 Industrial training institutes are in Odisha. The Government of Odisha has recently established the World Skill Centre in Bhubaneswar to prepare the Odia workforce for modern and new age Industry.

Patnaik also announced that the State would be conducting the third edition of its flagship Global Investors Meet, “Make in Odisha 2022”, during November 30 to December 4 at the State capital Bhubaneswar. Patnaik extended the invitation to businesses in the MENA region to attend the meet and witness the opportunities Odisha offers.

The companies expressed their interest to invest in the State and Investment intents worth more than Rs 21,000 crore and employment potential of more than 19,000 was received across sectors such as infrastructure, hospitality, logistics, chemical and food processing.

 The CM also assured all the companies of unmatched facilitation and support in Odisha