Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at Odisha Food Pro 2026 at New Delhi
Bhubaneswar: In a major push to position Odisha as a leading hub for food processing in India, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on August 7 unveiled an ambitious vision at Odisha Food Pro 2026. This event, the state’s first-ever sector-focused investment roadshow held outside Odisha, attracted over 300 industry leaders, investors, and business delegates, signalling strong confidence in the state’s emerging food processing ecosystem.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister emphasised that food processing is not merely an industrial activity but a transformative bridge connecting farmers’ prosperity, rural development, and Odisha’s industrial growth. He stated that every investment in this sector enhances value at the farm level, generates rural employment, boosts exports, and strengthens the overall economy. Inviting industry stakeholders to partner in Odisha’s growth journey, he asserted that the State is ready to emerge as India’s preferred destination for food processing investments.
The roadshow witnessed the signing of 27 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), involving a proposed investment of Rs 41,748 crore. These projects are expected to generate approximately 35,252 employment opportunities, reflecting growing industry confidence in Odisha’s policy framework and resource potential.
In addition, the Government of Odisha received 12 Investment Intent Forms (IIFs) with a proposed investment of Rs 1,689 crore, expected to create 8,064 jobs. Combined, the total investment proposals secured on the first day reached Rs 43,437 crore, with the potential to generate 43,316 employment opportunities.
The event was attended by Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain, Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary (Industries) Hemant Sharma, senior government officials, representatives of ASSOCHAM, and key stakeholders from across the food processing sector.
More than just an investment platform, Odisha Food Pro 2026 marks a strategic shift in the State’s development approach. The initiative aims to create integrated food processing ecosystems that seamlessly connect agriculture with manufacturing, logistics, exports, and global markets.
The Chief Minister highlighted that Odisha is moving beyond viewing food processing as a standalone industry. Instead, it is being positioned as a driver of economic transformation that directly benefits farmers, fishermen, women entrepreneurs, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and rural enterprises.
He underscored the government’s vision to ensure that agricultural and marine produce generated in Odisha is increasingly processed within the State, thereby enhancing value addition, raising incomes, and creating sustainable employment for the youth.
Highlighting Odisha’s strengths, the Chief Minister pointed to the State’s abundant raw materials, diverse agro-climatic zones, and extensive coastline of 575 kilometres. He also emphasized the State’s thriving fisheries sector, expanding port infrastructure, improving logistics connectivity, and investor-friendly policy environment.
These factors, he noted, provide a comprehensive ecosystem for industries, enabling seamless operations from sourcing raw materials to manufacturing, distribution, and global exports. The State’s strategic location and infrastructure development further enhance its attractiveness for investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.
The Chief Minister unveiled a long-term roadmap aimed at transforming Odisha into a major hub for value-added food manufacturing. The strategy is built on five key pillars that focus on strengthening the sector holistically.
The roadmap includes the development of specialized food processing clusters to promote regional strengths and industrial concentration. It also prioritizes the expansion of integrated cold-chain and warehousing infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses and improve supply chain efficiency.
Further, the government plans to strengthen food quality and certification systems to meet global standards and enhance export competitiveness. Integration of FPOs, MSMEs, and women-led SHGs with organized industry is another critical focus area, ensuring inclusive growth and wider participation in the value chain.
The final pillar involves the development of a globally competitive skilled workforce to support the sector’s expansion and technological advancement.
Reiterating the State government’s commitment to ease of doing business, the Chief Minister assured investors of seamless support at every stage of project implementation. He stated that “Team Odisha” will provide continuous institutional handholding, from project conceptualization to commissioning.
He highlighted the State’s focus on transparent governance, faster approvals, and policy stability, which have significantly improved investor confidence. According to him, Odisha’s evolving investment climate reflects its strong emphasis on execution and long-term industrial growth.
Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain, in his address, reiterated the government’s vision of building a globally competitive food processing ecosystem. He emphasized that Odisha aims to unlock the full potential of its agricultural and marine resources by creating an integrated industrial framework.
He noted that the State is fostering an environment where farmers, MSMEs, FPOs, women entrepreneurs, and global industries can grow together. This collaborative model, he said, will not only generate quality employment but also enhance rural incomes and ensure sustainable industrial development.
Swain further highlighted that progressive reforms, skilled human capital, world-class infrastructure, and responsive governance are positioning Odisha as a reliable and attractive destination for long-term investments.
As part of the two-day investment outreach in New Delhi, the Chief Minister also held one-on-one meetings with leading industry players. These discussions focused on project-specific opportunities, strategic partnerships, and long-term collaboration in food processing and allied sectors.
These engagements are expected to further strengthen industry-government partnerships and accelerate high-quality investments into the State.
Odisha Food Pro 2026 represents a significant milestone in the State’s industrial journey. As its first dedicated sectoral investment roadshow, the initiative goes beyond business engagement to establish a clear roadmap for the future.
With a strong focus on value addition, export growth, farmer welfare, and employment generation, the State is positioning itself at the forefront of India’s next phase of food processing growth. By transforming its agricultural abundance into globally competitive industries, Odisha aims to emerge as a key growth engine for eastern India while ensuring inclusive and sustainable development.
