Interview Times At the National Level CII Mining and Construction Equipment Summit in Bhubaneswar, Odisha’s Chief Secretary, Pradeep Kumar Jena, highlighted the crucial role of the mining sector in the state’s socio-economic development. He pointed out that Odisha has experienced significant growth in mining revenue, rising from INR 10,000 crore to INR 49,000 crore in the past year. Jena expressed a commitment to sustain this positive trend, emphasizing its importance for the state’s overall growth.
During the summit, Anurag Jain, the Secretary of Road Transport and Highways for the Government of India, discussed the state of infrastructure development in the country. He noted that logistics costs in India account for 14% of the national GDP, significantly higher than the international standard of 8%. He stressed the urgency of implementing policies to reduce these costs and advocated for the establishment of Research and Development Centers in India.
Hemant Sharma, the Principal Secretary of Industry for the Government of Odisha, highlighted the state’s political stability and skilled workforce, making it an attractive destination for investors. He mentioned that Odisha ranked 2nd in the country in attracting investments totaling INR 20.1 lakh crore in FY’23 and 3rd in attracting bank-assisted investment proposals during the same period.
Sharma also pointed out that Odisha contributes 13.8% of the total mineral production value in the country. The mining and metallurgy sector plays a significant role, contributing more than 13% to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). The state aims to increase its steel manufacturing capacity to 138 million metric tons in 2030 from the current capacity of 34 million metric tons. Similarly, the aluminum production capacity is expected to grow to 3.84 million metric tons in 2030 from the current capacity of 2.64 million metric tons. He also mentioned the Long-Term Linkage Policy for minerals.
Mr. D K Singh IAS, Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Steel & Mines, Government of Odisha, addressed concerns about environmental degradation and emphasized sustainability and inter-generational equity. He encouraged mining stakeholders to use efficient and eco-friendly infrastructure to promote environmentally responsible mining practices.
CII Eastern Region Chairman Shiv Siddhant Narayan Kaul acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the Government of Odisha, CII, and industries in removing regional bottlenecks to facilitate investment. He stressed the importance of not only focusing on “Make in India” but also on global exports. Kaul highlighted the competitive advantage of skilled labor with lower labor costs in Odisha.
Vivek Bhatia, Chairman of CII MCED, emphasized the global significance of the mining and construction industry, which was valued at $121 billion in 2021, with the Asia-Pacific region contributing $62 billion. He pointed out the sector’s potential to reach $190 billion by 2028, with a growth rate of 2.8% per year. Bhatia underscored the sector’s role in realizing India’s vision of a 5 trillion-dollar economy and the employment opportunities it provides, with 3.5 million people currently employed in the mining sector. He also noted that in the eastern part of India, seven states significantly contribute to mineral production, with Odisha leading the way at 42%, followed by Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand with 17% and 4.3%, respectively.
The event also featured other notable figures, including Chief Engineer of Eastern Command Maj Gen Praveen Badrinath, Additional Secretary of Steel and Mines Department for the Government of Odisha Mr. D. K. Singh, and CII Odisha State Council Chairman Mr. Sashi Sekhar Mohanty.
