Odisha delegation in US to woo investors

A state level delegation consisting of ministers and entrepreneurs have embarked on a visit to the United States to attract investments.

The delegation included state industries minister Debi Prasad Mishra, tourism minister Ashok Chandra Panda, Bhubaneswar (North) MLA Priyadarshi Mishra and Debasis Patnaik, convenor, Invest Bhubaneswar.

"Investments will be sought in IT (information technology), biotechnology, waste management and tourism. The team is also scheduled to attend the Global Odia Convention during the stay," Patnaik said. The delegation is likely to return on July 6. The visit assumes significance as the state targets to generate 300,000 new jobs by 2019, banking on growth in manufacturing sector that is seen as the key job creator. Odisha expects new investments of Rs 1.73 lakh crore by 2019-20, creating more employment opportunities. Manufacturing sector is set to account for 25 per cent increase in employment figure. The share of manufacturing sector to the state's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is poised to rise by 60 per cent by 2019. The manufacturing sector is projected to clock year-on-year growth of 15 per cent during 2015-19.

The state government also aims to clock gross ICT (information and communication technology) turnover of Rs 4,500 crore in next four years as per a road map drawn by the IT department.

The turnover includes exports of software, IT services and electronic system design and manufacturing (ESDM). Presently, the turnover is pegged at around Rs 2,400 crore. In addition, the department is targeting to attract 10 leading IT/IT enabled services and ESDM companies to the state and promote 50 local entrepreneurs by 2019. The state government aims to generate 50,000 direct employment in IT /ITes (IT enabled services) and ESDM units in the next four years.