Odisha secures Rs 43,437 crore investment proposals at ‘Odisha Food Pro 2026’

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Bhubaneswar, Aug 7 (IANS) The Odisha government on Friday signed 27 Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs) involving a proposed investment of Rs 41,748 crore and the potential to generate 35,252 jobs, signaling growing industry confidence in the state’s food-processing ecosystem.

The MoUs were signed at Food Pro 2026 in New Delhi, the first sector-focused investment roadshow organised outside Odisha.

Expounding the vision behind the programme, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said, “The Food processing is not merely another industry. It is the bridge between our farmers’ prosperity, rural transformation and Odisha’s industrial future. Every investment in this sector creates value at the farm, generates employment in villages, strengthens exports and builds a stronger economy. Odisha is ready to become India’s preferred destination for food processing, and I invite industry to partner with us in this journey.”

The officials also claimed that more than an investment event, the initiative signalled Odisha’s strategic shift towards developing integrated food processing ecosystems that connect agriculture with manufacturing, exports and global markets.

In addition, the Odisha government also received 12 Investment Intent Forms (IIFs) involving a proposed investment of Rs 1,689 crore, with the potential to generate 8,064 employment opportunities.

Cumulatively, on the first day of the visit, the Odisha government secured total investment proposals worth Rs 43,437 crore, with the potential to create 43,316 employment opportunities, reflecting strong investor confidence in the state’s rapidly emerging food processing ecosystem.

Addressing industry leaders, the Chief Minister said Odisha is no longer viewing food processing merely as an industrial sector but as a means of economic transformation benefiting farmers, fishermen, women entrepreneurs, Self-Help Groups, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and rural enterprises.

He added that the Odisha government aims to ensure that major agricultural and marine products are increasingly processed within the state, raising producers’ incomes and creating sustainable jobs for youth.

Highlighting Odisha’s strengths, Chief Minister Majhi said the state offers investors a unique combination of abundant raw materials, 10 agro-climatic zones, a 575-km coastline, thriving fisheries, expanding port infrastructure, improving logistics connectivity and an investor-friendly policy environment.

He added that these advantages provide industries with an end-to-end ecosystem, from raw material sourcing and manufacturing to exports and global market access.

Chief Minister Majhi also unveiled a long-term roadmap centred on five strategic pillars: creation of specialised food processing clusters, expansion of integrated cold-chain and warehousing infrastructure, strengthening food quality and certification systems, deeper integration of FPOs, MSMEs and women Self-Help Groups with organised industry, and development of a globally competitive skilled workforce.

He said that these interventions would enable Odisha to emerge as a major hub for value-added food manufacturing in the coming decade.

Chief Minister Majhi assured industry that Team Odisha would continue to provide seamless support from project conceptualisation to commissioning through transparent governance, faster approvals and continuous institutional handholding.

He noted that Odisha’s improving investment climate reflects the state government’s emphasis on policy stability, execution and investor confidence.

The Chief Minister also held a series of one-on-one meetings with leading industry leaders to discuss project-specific investment opportunities, strategic partnerships and long-term collaboration in food processing and allied sectors.

–IANS

grm/khz

Related Posts

Students threaten to intensify protest over Telangana’s move to take back land from varsity

Hyderabad, Jan 9 (IANS) Students of Moulana Azad National Urdu University on Friday warned that they will intensify their protest if the Telangana government does not drop its move to take back 50 acres from the university.

A group of students from the university on Friday called on Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K. T. Rama Rao to discuss their plan of action over the show-cause notice issued to the university authorities by the State government.

Revenue authorities recently sent a show-cause notice to MANUU Registrar Ishtiaq Ahmad seeking an explanation as to why vacant land within the campus in Manikonda village, Gandipet mandal, should not be resumed, as it has not been used for the purpose for which it was allotted.

The students voiced concern over the State government’s move and told the BRS leader that it posed a threat to the future of the university.

Talking to reporters, a student leader claimed that he received threatening calls after he announced that they would launch a protest over the notice. He said that they see “no difference between the policies of the BJP government at the Centre and the Congress government in Telangana”.

Stating that 60,000 students from across the country are studying at MANNU, he warned that if any attempt was made to harm the interests of the university, the image of the Congress party would be tarnished all over India.

K. T. Rama Rao alleged that the Congress government is trying to weaken MANUU, the only Urdu university in the country and a “jewel of Hyderabad”.

He accused the Congress government of trying to illegally acquire 50 acres of the university land for a real estate business.

KTR remarked that the state government has become a “serial land grabber, like a serial killer.”

“The Congress government has made it a practice to seize the lands of all universities. First, it took the land of the Agriculture University, citing the High Court. It then tried to seize 400 acres of Hyderabad Central University. But due to the students’ protests, public opposition, and the intervention of the Supreme Court, it was temporarily stopped,” he said.

The BRS leader said even though the Supreme Court said that the Rs 10,000 crore land scam took place in the Hyderabad Central University, the Central government has not yet initiated any investigation.

Stating that the state government is acting like a real estate broker, taking over the lands of educational institutions, KTR assured MANUU students that BRS will stand with them.

KTR also gave the assurance that after BRS returns to power, it will provide the necessary funds from the State government for the expansion of the university.

He wanted to know why Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who claims to be the protector of minorities in the country, was allowing the Congress government in Telangana to encroach upon MANUU land.

“Is this your Mohabbat Ki Dukaan. Is weakening a university where minority students from all states of the country come to study, your idea of protection?” he asked Rahul Gandhi.

–IANS

ms/svn

Rajnath Singh lays foundation stone of Rs 1,800 crore-BEML rail coach unit in MP’s Raisen

Obedullaganj, Aug 10 (IANS) In a landmark move to bolster indigenous rail infrastructure and manufacturing, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday laid the foundation stone of the ‘Bramha’ BEML Rail Hub for Manufacturing in Umaria village of Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh.

The state-of-the-art facility, to be developed by Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) with an investment of Rs 1,800 crore, is poised to become a cornerstone of India’s self-reliant rail production ecosystem.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Defence Minister hailed the initiative as a symbol of India’s growing industrial prowess and praised Madhya Pradesh’s emergence as a promising hub for defence and infrastructure manufacturing.

“The state has political will, stable leadership, and abundant resources. With 48,000 hectares earmarked for new investments, MP is on its way to becoming a ‘Modern State’,” he said.

The new unit — named after Lord Brahma, the creator of the known Universe in Hindu mythology — will manufacture coaches for Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat, metro trains, and future high-speed rail systems, including bullet trains.

It will also produce other railway components, with export-ready broad and standard gauge coaches. The plant will initially produce 200 coaches annually, scaling up to 1,100 units over time.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, also present at the event, noted that BEML has already delivered over 2,100 metro coaches and is actively developing high-speed train prototypes in collaboration with the Integral Coach Factory (ICF).

“The Umaria unit will generate at least 5,000 jobs and play a pivotal role by offloading jobs to MSMEs in meeting Indian Railways’ target,” he said.

Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav described the project as a proud moment for the state and a direct reflection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ vision.

“For the first time, Madhya Pradesh will manufacture and supply train and metro coaches across the country and the world,” he said.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan spoke about Operation Sindoor on the occasion.

Spanning 148 acres in Goharganj tehsil near Obedullaganj, the facility will incorporate cutting-edge technologies, including robotic welding, lean manufacturing, and solar-powered energy systems. It will require 2,000 MVA of power, to be met through renewable sources.

BEML Chairman Shantanu Roy confirmed that the first coach is expected to roll out within 18 months. The plant’s strategic location is expected to catalyse regional development, with ancillary industries in Raisen and Bhopal districts supplying bogies, interiors, air-conditioning systems, and other components.

A dedicated rail coach technology institute is also under consideration to support skill development and technical training.

BEML’s expansion into Raisen marks a strategic convergence of defence-grade engineering and civilian infrastructure needs.

The unit will complement its existing hubs in Bengaluru, Palakkad, and Kolar Gold Fields, and significantly enhance India’s rail export capabilities.

–IANS

sktr/dpb

Prajwal Revanna will come out of jail in one month: JD (S) MLC Suraj Revanna

Hassan (Karnataka), March 8 (IANS) JD (S) MLC and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda’s grandson Suraj Revanna said on Saturday that former JD (S) MP and his brother Prajwal Revanna will come out of jail in one month.

He also claimed that the Congress government in Karnataka will collapse in four months.

He was addressing a gathering at a cricket tournament in Chakenahallikatte village near Holenarasipur town in Hassan district.

Suraj stated, “Prajwal Revanna will come out of prison in another one month. Don’t bother. “Let us all together welcome him back. The world has not ended yet. I know how to pursue politics.”

“I will support all tournaments and programmes organised by you. The youths must be united and support one leader. In another four months, the government will change. What about the fate of those who have joined their hands with them? I am asking you a technical question,” he maintained.

“Suppose, if the government is changed in four to five months of duration from now, do they come then and take our slogans? They will surely come and raise our slogans and this has been the story. They come to us through someone and plead,” he stated.

“Anyways, the village and people should get benefited. I have been responding positively to you and I will continue to do so in future as well,” Suraj stated.

“Those who do not do any work will go pose and wave their hands in villages. Every day we will spend time with you, and participate in all programmes such as marriage and others. Earlier, Revanna sahib (his father H.D. Revanna) had got the roads and community halls constructed. It was the earlier trend.

Now, the trend in every village is temple renovation and construction of new temples. The youth must think about who is best and who should be kept at a distance. Why have you forgotten us who made many contributions to the community?” Suraj questioned.

Prajwal Revanna is presently lodged in Bengaluru Central Prison in Parappana Agrahara.

Former PM H.D. Deve Gowda’s grandson, Prajwal Revanna was arrested at the Bengaluru International Airport in the early hours of May 30, 2024, when he was returning from Germany after his grandfather H.D. Deve Gowda and uncle H.D. Kumaraswamy, who is also Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, made a public appeal that he has to come and face authorities.

His father, JD-S legislator H.D Revanna was jailed. Revanna and Prajwal’s mother Bhavani Revanna are currently out on bail in the kidnap and rape case linked to the sex video scam. His younger brother, JD (S) MLC Suraj Revanna, who was jailed for allegedly sexually assaulting male party workers, is also out on bail.

The prosecution has charged Prajwal Revanna under Sections 354 (A) (sexual harassment), 354 (B) (Assault or use of criminal force on a woman with an intent to disrobe her), 354 (C) (An act of watching or capturing a woman’s image while she is engaging in a private act), 376 (2) (N) (Aggravated form of rape committed by police officers and other public servants in charge, repeatedly raping same woman), 376 (2) (K) (Being in position of control or dominance over a woman, committing rape), 506 (Criminal intimidation), 201 (Causing disappearance of evidence) of the IPC and Section 66 (E) of the IT Act.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the sexual assault video case involving Prajwal Revanna submitted the 1,691-page charge sheet to the Special Court for MLAs/MPs.

The charge sheet had mentioned that the victim was raped at gunpoint. The video was made of the rape incident and the victim was repeatedly sexually assaulted, threatening to make her videos public.

–IANS

mka/uk