Odisha aims to create 4 lakh jobs in MSME sector

The Odisha government has set a target of creating 1.5 lakh MSME units with an employment potential of more than four lakh jobs within the next five years, said Governor S.C. Jamir on Tuesday.

"As of now, more than 1.60 lakh MSME units have been established in our state with an investment of Rs.7,900 crore which have been instrumental in providing employment opportunities to more than 8.5 lakh youths of my state," he said in his address to the budget session of state assembly here.

Jamir said the state government has already facilitated establishment of 32,938 units with parallel employment opportunities for 101,885 youths. The government is also attempting to strengthen Export Promotion and Marketing Directorate, Odisha Small Industries Corporation and Odisha State Finance Commission to establish an integrated framework to augment the growth and sustenance of this sector, he added.

Under the Chief Minister's Employment Generation Programme, the government aims to upgrade the skill of 150 youth from every panchayat and ensure their placement. "Overall, my government has set a target to train 9.3 lakh youths across 6,234 gram panchayats and 1.7 lakh youths from the urban areas in next four years," said Jamir.