Suparjya swain 
FEATURE: In the quiet stretches of Konisi near Berhampur, where open skies meet the highway’s restless hum, a silent transformation is underway. What was once an unassuming plot of land is now the beating heart of Belmira India Pvt. Ltd., a rising name in India’s plastic manufacturing sector. At the center of this transformation stands Anurag Mishra, a young entrepreneur with deep corporate roots and a burning vision to put Odisha on the industrial map.
Anurag’s journey began in humble surroundings—educated in Odia-medium schools and grounded in modest beginnings. Fueled by ambition and curiosity, he moved to Visakhapatnam to pursue a degree in Business Management and later earned his MBA from Sri Balaji University in Pune. Like many fresh graduates, he entered the corporate world through a campus placement at Café Coffee Day. But it wasn’t coffee that shaped his future—it was the calling of entrepreneurship.
From his earliest days as a sales executive with Cello Group—literally going retailer to retailer selling household plastic items—Anurag built a ground-level understanding of India’s consumer market. His career spanned roles with Borosil and later Milton, where he was posted as State Head at Ahmedabad, managing a ₹100 crore market across Gujarat. It was here that he immersed himself not just in sales, but also in competitive market analysis, sales data analysis, and depot logistics—an end-to-end exposure to the manufacturing and distribution ecosystem.
After nearly a decade in the corporate grind, Anurag felt a shift. “I realised I wanted to build something of my own,” he says. With the support of his father, Mr. Nalinikanta Mishra, a former DRDA officer with expertise in HR and operations, the idea of a manufacturing unit in Odisha began to take shape. Combining his father’s administrative insights with his own industrial exposure, Anurag laid the foundation of Belmira in late 2022.
Choosing Konisi was a carefully considered strategic decision. The location provided seamless access via rail and road, along with the added advantage of the soon-to-be-operational airstrip in Berhampur. Affordable land prices and logistical ease further enhanced its appeal. What began with just four machines and a modest product line has, in a remarkably short time, expanded to over 11 machines, 200 SKUs, and a dedicated team of more than 40 professionals across India—all within just two years.
However, the path wasn’t easy. “The biggest challenge was not money, but mindset,” Anurag reflects. Locals, unfamiliar with industrial work culture, needed to be trained from scratch. He invested in capacity-building—flying young recruits from established factories across different parts of India and mentoring them in discipline, professionalism, and the rhythm of manufacturing life. The result is a loyal, skilled team—many of whom were with him in earlier jobs and chose to follow him into this new journey.
Today, Belmira straddles both B2B and B2C markets. On the commercial side, over 30 brands source products such as jars for snacks and pickles. On the consumer end, Belmira offers lunch boxes, bottles, and other home utility items designed for everyday convenience. Customer-centricity is at the core—something Anurag picked up from his years at Milton, where product R&D and understanding household habits shaped every innovation.
But scaling a manufacturing business in Odisha comes with its own set of systemic challenges. A major hurdle has been the infrastructure gap, especially in electricity supply. “Industries are not allowed inside urban centers and must operate in peripheral areas,” Anurag explains. “But these outskirts often lack stable electricity. Voltage fluctuations are frequent, and uninterrupted power—crucial for plastic moulding—is simply not reliable.”
Despite being a registered MSME and receiving subsidies on machinery, other essential components of setting up a unit—such as civil construction, electricity infrastructure, and mould procurement—receive no similar support.
“It’s not enough to just subsidize machines,” Anurag adds. “The real cost of building a factory lies in creating a viable ecosystem—power, water, buildings, and skilled manpower. Until the policy shifts to recognize this reality, many entrepreneurs will hesitate to take the plunge.”
From its flagship plant in Konisi, Belmira has now expanded to a second unit in Rambha under a strategic joint venture. The facility is gearing up to roll out the company’s next line of products—premium kitchen containers and modular storage solutions—strengthening Belmira’s growing footprint in the Indian home utility segment. Today, its products reach customers across Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Chhattisgarh.
Looking ahead, Anurag’s vision is ambitious yet grounded. “In the next 5–10 years, we want to become a ₹100–150 crore group with 4–5 factories across India,” he shares. His long-term goal is to create a national brand born out of Odisha, rooted in quality, scale, and structured growth.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those from smaller towns, his message is crystal clear: “Never give up. Discipline, dedication, and determination will take you where talent alone cannot. Observe, analyze, believe in yourself, and be patient with your journey.”
In Konisi, under the fluorescent glow of factory lights, a new batch of unbreakable, food-grade plastic bottles slides off the assembly line. Each one a symbol—not just of utility—but of grit, belief, and a young man’s mission to build something that lasts.
