Keep up the positive attitude. The demographic dividends in the State have to be leveraged. The State Government will interface with the industry before formulating its new industrial policy, this was said by Minister of Industries Debi Prasad Mishra on Saturday.
Speaking at a function on the occasion of the annual day of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Odisha chapter and a seminar on ‘Make in India- Odisha Perspective-2015’, Mishra said the State has adequate manpower and knowledge pool like engineering graduates along with an enabling environment for setting up manufacturing industries.
But he urged the entrepreneurs to diversify to other sectors like food processing from mineral and metals-based industries to make best use of the resources. He informed that the State Government has sought approval to declare the Kalinga Nagar industrial area as a national manufacturing zone.
Additional Chief Secretary, Finance, R Balakrishna echoed the same views and told industrialists not to be obsessed with minerals-based industries. He informed that the State’s new industrial policy would have operational guidelines. He assured that there would be no unnecessary hurdles and the Government would ensure that there are no project delays.
Former CII Chairman, Eastern Region Sandipan Chakraborty said the Odisha’s strength is its abundant mineral resources. He hoped that the GST would further boost the manufacturing sector in the State.
While outgoing CII Chairman, Odisha chapter and Nalco CMD Ansuman Das delivered the welcome address, among others Director Adani DPCl Santosh Kumar Mohapatra, XIMB Professor WS Williams, VP of Tata Steel Gopalpur Project Arun Mishra also spoke.