Bhubaneswar: Odisha is preparing to take its investment outreach to the global stage, with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi set to lead a high-level delegation to the United Arab Emirates from September 8 to 11. The visit, centred on Dubai, is part of the state government’s broader push to attract foreign direct investment and position Odisha as a preferred destination for global businesses.
The delegation is expected to hold investment roadshows, business-to-government interactions and one-to-one meetings with potential investors, industrialists and business leaders. The state will use the UAE platform to showcase its industrial infrastructure, natural-resource base, policy support and emerging opportunities across multiple sectors.
Among the sectors likely to receive special attention are metals and downstream industries, petrochemicals, renewable energy and green hydrogen, food processing, textiles, electronics, ports and logistics. The outreach reflects Odisha’s attempt to diversify its investment profile while building on its established strengths in mineral-based industries and manufacturing.
Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain has said the government’s focus is not merely on generating investment proposals but on translating investor interest into projects on the ground. According to him, several proposals received through earlier outreach programmes have already been approved and have moved towards implementation.
The UAE visit also carries a wider strategic significance. Dubai serves as a major international business hub and a gateway to investors from the Middle East and beyond, making it an important platform for Odisha’s efforts to strengthen its global economic partnerships.
The Chief Minister is also expected to interact with the Odia diaspora in Dubai and encourage Non-Resident Odias to participate in the state’s economic and industrial development.
This will be Majhi’s second overseas investment outreach since taking office in June 2024. His first foreign visit, to Singapore in November 2024, included government-to-government and business engagements with leaders in sectors such as technology, renewable energy, infrastructure and manufacturing.
As Odisha expands its search for global capital, the Dubai visit will test how effectively the state can convert its investment pitch into concrete commitments. The larger challenge, however, will lie beyond signing expressions of interest—ensuring that potential investments translate into operational projects, jobs and long-term industrial growth on the ground.
