Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi at CII Eastern Regional Council meeting organised at May Fair convention on 26 June 20
Bhubaneswar: In a significant policy announcement aimed at transforming the industrial landscape of eastern India, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on June 26 unveiled the ‘Go East’ platform during the CII Eastern Regional Council Meeting 2026, presenting a comprehensive roadmap to position Odisha as the leading industrial destination in eastern India over the next five years.
The Chief Minister said the initiative is designed to accelerate industrialisation not only in Odisha but across the eastern and northeastern regions of the country by offering a structured investment ecosystem backed by policy support, institutional mechanisms, and faster project implementation.
Introducing the initiative, Majhi explained that ‘Go East’ stands for Government of Odisha – Eastern Investment Accelerator and Special Task Force. The platform is intended to encourage industries from eastern and northeastern states to expand their manufacturing operations in Odisha while retaining their existing industrial base and markets in their home states.
He described the initiative as a strategic partnership model that would provide investors with greater opportunities, policy support, faster clearances, and a conducive business environment. According to the Chief Minister, Odisha’s industrial ecosystem has witnessed remarkable progress over the past two years, and the state is now prepared to emerge as eastern India’s premier manufacturing and investment destination.
“We are not merely inviting investments; we are creating an ecosystem that ensures those investments are implemented in record time,” Majhi said.
To ensure seamless execution of investment proposals, the state government will establish a high-level Special Task Force under the Go East initiative. The task force will facilitate coordination among departments and expedite approvals for industrial projects.
In addition, the state’s investment promotion agency, IPICOL, will create a dedicated Go East Cell to assist investors throughout the project lifecycle. The government also plans to introduce a specialised Go Swift module, enabling real-time monitoring and tracking of investment proposals, approvals, and project implementation.
The Chief Minister said these institutional reforms are expected to significantly reduce procedural delays while enhancing investor confidence.
A major highlight of the announcement was the government’s emphasis on inclusive industrialisation. Under the Go East framework, Odisha’s border districts are expected to witness substantial industrial investments through the development of new industrial growth centres.
The initiative aims to stimulate economic activity in regions that have traditionally remained outside the mainstream industrial corridor, creating employment opportunities and improving regional infrastructure.
According to the Chief Minister, balanced regional development will remain one of the central objectives of the state’s industrial strategy.
The Odisha government also announced significant amendments to the Industrial Policy Resolution (IPR)-2022, introducing special incentives for industrial investments in economically backward regions.
As part of the revised policy, 15 districts, including Balangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Kandhamal, Boudh, Gajapati, and other underdeveloped districts, have been granted ‘Thrust Sector’ status for the promotion of non-mineral-based industries.
The move is expected to diversify Odisha’s industrial economy beyond mining while encouraging investments in manufacturing sectors that generate higher employment and promote value addition.
Officials believe the revised policy will help bridge regional economic disparities and create a more balanced industrial ecosystem across the state.
Addressing industry leaders, Majhi observed that India’s economic growth over the past several decades had largely been concentrated in the western and southern corridors. However, he asserted that the country’s next major growth story would be written in eastern India.
He highlighted the region’s abundant mineral resources, vast agricultural potential, extensive coastline, strategic connectivity, and youthful workforce as key advantages that position eastern India for accelerated industrial expansion.
The Chief Minister linked Odisha’s long-term development agenda with the state’s ‘Samruddha Odisha 2036’ vision and India’s broader ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ mission, stating that Odisha aims to become the most investor-friendly state in eastern India while playing a leading role in the country’s economic transformation.
Majhi also outlined the government’s ongoing regulatory reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business.
He said that under the Deregulation 1.0 and Deregulation 2.0 initiatives, the average time required for establishing industrial projects has been reduced from nearly 400 days to less than 160 days. The government is now working towards bringing the approval timeline below 100 days, making Odisha one of the fastest states in project clearances.
These reforms, he said, reflect the government’s commitment to efficient governance and investor facilitation.
Presenting the state’s investment performance, the Chief Minister said that since June 2024, the Odisha government has approved 477 industrial projects involving investments of nearly Rs 9.5 lakh crore. These projects are expected to generate employment opportunities for approximately six lakh people.
He further revealed that 12 major projects, representing investments exceeding Rs 3.11 lakh crore, have already completed the grounding phase and are approaching inauguration.
The progress, he noted, demonstrates that Odisha is not only successful in attracting investment commitments but is equally effective in translating them into operational projects.
The Chief Minister said Odisha is steadily transitioning from a predominantly mineral-based economy to a diversified industrial hub.
While steel, aluminium, chemicals, and the Paradip petrochemical hub continue to remain major growth drivers, the state is now actively promoting emerging sectors such as semiconductors, electronics, advanced manufacturing, and future technologies.
This diversification strategy, he said, is expected to strengthen Odisha’s competitiveness in the evolving global manufacturing landscape.
Odisha Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain also addressed the gathering, highlighting the state’s strong demographic advantage and ongoing efforts in skill development.
He said the government is aligning skill development programmes with industry requirements to ensure the availability of a modern, industry-ready workforce. According to the minister, the Go East initiative will usher in a new phase of industrialisation in Odisha’s border and backward districts while generating sustainable employment opportunities for local youth.
Earlier in the programme, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries, Hemant Sharma presented a comprehensive overview of Odisha’s industrial growth through a detailed presentation. He highlighted the state’s strengthened single-window clearance system, expanding industrial infrastructure, improved airport and port connectivity, and its emergence as one of India’s fastest-growing manufacturing destinations.
The presentation showcased Odisha’s progress in project implementation and reinforced its position as a preferred investment destination for both domestic and global investors.
Concluding the conference, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi invited industrial leaders to partner with Odisha in its next phase of economic transformation. He urged businesses to become active stakeholders in the state’s growth journey and contribute towards achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, expressing confidence that Odisha would emerge as the driving force behind eastern India’s industrial resurgence.
