Dikhyaa Mohanty 
In addition to hosting the State Credit Seminar 2026–2027 in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) published the State Focus Paper (SFP), which projects Odisha’s priority sector credit potential to be Rs 3.15 lakh crore in FY 2026–2027. Housing, education, renewable energy, social infrastructure, export credit, and other sectors make up the remaining portion of the overall predictions, with MSMEs accounting for the greatest proportion at Rs 1.52 lakh crore and agriculture for Rs 1.14 lakh crore.
Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg chaired the seminar, which was attended by Principal Secretary (Finance) Sanjeeb Kumar Mishra, Sarada Prasan Mohanty, Regional Director, RBI, A.D. Ratna Teja, CGM, SBI, and Goutam Patra, CGM, UCO Bank & Convenor, SLBC. Other attendees included controlling heads of banks, representatives from State Government departments, and other stakeholders.
The Chief Secretary opened the seminar by highlighting the state government’s focus on the Vision 2036 strategy and asking for everyone’s help in reaching the lofty goal of being a developed state by 2036 and having an economy worth USD 1.5 trillion by 2047.
“Fulfilling Odisha’s Vision 2036 aspirations would take sincere efforts from one and all – the State government, public as well as private sectors. The Banks must be well prepared to provide the enhanced credit,” she said.
She emphasized the need to move SHGs and farmers to the next level of prosperity while praising the state’s achievement in assisting them. “The transition of SHGs into SMEs and farmers into agripreneurs must be prioritized,” she stated. She emphasized the problem of the “missing middle” in the MSME sector and asked lenders to offer lending support in order to increase the number of small and mid-sized businesses in the state.
She also urged banks and line departments to work together more closely in order to expedite lending for off-farm operations, warehousing, agri-infrastructure, and women-led SHGs. The Principal Secretary, Finance, urged more balanced regional development while applauding the State’s credit growth.”In tribal and underprivileged areas, emphasis should also be placed on increasing credit,” he stated. In an effort to improve the CD ratio, he also urged private sector banks to expand credit distribution throughout the State in the priority sector.
