Orissa succeeds in attracting mega investments-Naveen

Bhubaneswar, Mar 5 (UNI) Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today claimed that the proactive policy adopted by his government has succeeded in attracting a number of mega investments in the state.

Inaugurating the first ever Entrepreneurs' Week celebration in the state organised by the coordination committee of industries associations, Mr Patnaik said the industrial index for production in Orissa has grown up to a healthy 6.9 per cent.

The latest Global Forum report of Morgan Stanley, he said had indicated that Orissa has the potential to emerge as a centre for metal business in the country.

The Chief Minister said already 46 companies had signed the MoUs of which 43 would be establishing steel projects involving a capacity of 58.14 million tonnes per annum with a proposed investment of 1.40 lakhs crores.

He said of the 43 steel companies, 14 with an investment of Rs 10,800 crores have completed their first phase and started partial production by 2005.

Mr Patnaik said the mission of the government's industrial policy was to create a business climate condusive to accelerate investment in industry and infrastructure projects to raise the income and economic growth.

He further said state government had adopted a cluster development approach for the development of small and medium enterprises in the state adding that major clusters have been identified for development and marketing linkage besides creating a conducive atmosphere for development of inter-firm cooperation and specialisation.

The Chief Minister said the government was committed to promote the ancilliary and downstream industries in the state particularly in the Steel, Aluminium and Petro-chemical industries and urged the entrepreneurs to come forward and avail the opportunity to promote and develop industries in small and medium sector as ancilliary to the mega industries.

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