Bhubaneswar: Odisha received investment proposals worth Rs 8,417 crore with employment potential of 14,310 on the second day of UAE investor outreach on Thursday.

The day witnessed five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and eight Investment Intents (IIFs), representing a combined investment potential of Rs 8,417 crore and employment potential of 14,310, said the state government.

“Odisha further strengthened its investment engagement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the second day of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s UAE visit, with a series of high-level meetings with UAE leadership, global investors, industry representatives and business institutions in Dubai,” it added.

The engagements covered a wide range of sectors, including information technology and IT-enabled services, real estate, logistics, food processing, agro and food processing, steel and steel downstream, rare earths, chemicals, aluminium and circular economy, said the government.

 High-level engagement with UAE leadership

The day commenced with a high-level meeting between the Chief Minister and Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Cabinet Member and Minister of Economy and Tourism, UAE, and Chairman, Council of International Investments.

The discussions focused on strengthening economic and investment cooperation between Odisha and the UAE and exploring new opportunities for UAE-based investors and businesses in Odisha.

The Chief Minister highlighted Odisha’s growing industrial potential, strategic location, robust infrastructure, availability of natural resources, skilled manpower and investor-friendly policy environment. He invited UAE investors and business leaders to explore Odisha as a destination for long-term investment and partnership.

Odisha showcases investment opportunities

The Chief Minister participated in the Odisha Investment Roadshow in Dubai, where the state showcased its industrial ecosystem and the wide range of investment opportunities available across sectors.

The presentation highlighted Odisha’s strengths in manufacturing, metals and downstream industries, information technology, infrastructure, logistics, food processing, chemicals, energy and other emerging sectors.

The Chief Minister emphasised that Odisha is creating an enabling ecosystem for investors through progressive policies, infrastructure development, ease of doing business and responsive governance.

He invited global businesses to partner with Odisha in its journey towards accelerated industrialisation, employment generation and sustainable economic growth.

Focus on aluminium downstream and value addition

A dedicated roundtable with aluminium downstream industries provided an opportunity to discuss investment prospects in Odisha’s aluminium value chain.

The discussions focused on opportunities for downstream manufacturing, greater value addition, technology-driven industries and the development of globally competitive industrial capacities.

The Chief Minister highlighted Odisha’s established metals and minerals ecosystem and the state’s focus on strengthening downstream industries to generate greater economic value and employment within the state.

Strengthening business and professional linkages

The Chief Minister also participated in an interaction with the Indian Business & Professional Council (IBPC) in Dubai.

The engagement focused on strengthening business linkages, facilitating investment opportunities and encouraging greater participation of the Indian business and professional community in Odisha’s growth story.

The interaction also provided an opportunity to discuss potential collaborations, market linkages and avenues for expanding economic engagement between Odisha and the UAE.

Exploring global aluminium and industrial best practices

As part of the sectoral outreach, the Chief Minister visited a leading aluminium manufacturing facility in the UAE, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) gaining insights into advanced industrial operations, technology and global practices in the aluminium sector.

The visit provided an opportunity to explore areas of potential cooperation in technology, value addition and industrial development, particularly in the context of Odisha’s strong aluminium ecosystem and its growing focus on downstream manufacturing.

Recycling and circular economy in focus

An industry roundtable with the Bureau of Middle East Recycling focused on opportunities in recycling, resource efficiency and the circular economy.

The discussions explored the potential for investment, technology collaboration and sustainable industrial practices.

The engagement aligns with Odisha’s emphasis on promoting sustainable industrial growth and creating new opportunities in emerging sectors linked to resource efficiency and circular economy.

Investor interactions generate strong investment interest

The Chief Minister also held a series of one-to-one and group interactions with investors and business leaders, presenting Odisha’s investment opportunities and highlighting the state government’s commitment to facilitating projects.

These engagements generated significant investment interest across sectors ranging from technology and real estate to logistics, food processing, chemicals, aluminium, steel downstream, rare earths and circular economy.

As a result of the day’s engagements, five MoUs were signed, representing an investment potential of Rs 5,600 crore and employment potential of 11,500.

In addition, eight Investment Intents (IIFs) were received, representing a proposed investment of Rs 2,817 crore and employment potential of 2,810.

Together, the five MoUs and eight investment intents account for Rs 8,417 crore of proposed investment and 14,310 employment opportunities, marking a significant outcome of Odisha’s Dubai investment outreach.

Building momentum for a globally connected Odisha

The second day of the UAE outreach further expanded Odisha’s engagement with international investors and business institutions, with a clear focus on converting investment interest into projects, strengthening sectoral partnerships and creating new avenues for employment and economic growth.

The engagements underscored Odisha’s growing appeal as an investment destination and its potential to serve as a strategic base for businesses seeking access to India’s eastern and wider markets.

The Chief Minister reiterated the state government’s commitment to providing investors with policy stability, quality infrastructure, skilled human resources and institutional support for seamless project implementation.

The Dubai engagements reaffirmed Odisha’s commitment to building strong international partnerships and attracting investments that contribute to industrial diversification, value addition, employment generation and sustainable development.

The state’s continued global outreach is aligned with the vision of Samruddha Odisha, positioning Odisha as an investment-ready, globally connected and future-focused state.