Odisha CM asks Tata's Mistry to develop electronics hub in state

Mistry today met Naveen Patnaik at the state secretariat before proceeding for the commissioning of Tata Steel project

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has proposed the salt to software conglomerate Tata Group to develop several industrial projects in the state. Patnaik urged Tata Group chairman, Cyrus Mistry to set up a defence electronic manufacturing cluster at Naraj in Cuttack. Mistry on Wednesday met the chief minister at the state secretariat before proceeding for the commissioning of Tata Steel project at Kalinga Nagar.

Stating that 800 acres have been set aside at Naraj for industrial development, Patnaik asked Mistry to establish an IT and Electronics Manufacturing Cluster there.

Tata Power can consider setting up the defence electronics manufacturing cluster (EMC) there as they have done in Bangalore,  he added

It may be noted, to lure investors, the state government has recently unveiled special incentives for ESDM (electronics system design and manufacturing) investors.  

The state government is developing a greenfield EMC at Harapur, Gaudakasipur and Durgapur villages of Khurda district. It is expected to house over 100 electronics manufacturing units with an employment potential of 10,000-12,000 which will be a mix of skilled and semi-skilled personnel.

He proposed the Tata Group chairman to set a photo-voltaic cell manufacturing unit at Info-valley by Tata BP Solar, a hotel at Bhubaneswar by Taj Group and expansion of TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) city centre by making it a major training institute.  TCS operates in the IT SEZ area in Bhubaneswar.

Mentioning that the progress of industrial park and SEZ at Gopalpur is not up to mark, the Patnaik asked Mistry to consider a defence manufacturing unit there.

Tata Group chairman and other heads of the company assured the state government to consider the project proposals, read an  official statement.   

Among others, industries minister Debi Prasad Mishra, chief secretary GC Pati, R Balkrishnan, additional chief secretary( finance), T V Narendran, managing director, Tata Steel, W Hussain of Tata Sons, Tata Steel Group ED Koushik Chatterjee, N Chandrashekharan, chief executive officer, TCS and several other Tata officials were present at the meeting.