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Develop infrastructure under PPP mode, Naveen tells investors

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday said the State was looking at diversifying and acquiring characteristic of a mature industrial economy after receiving huge investments in mineral sector.

Addressing a national seminar on ‘Industrial resurgence in Orissa’ organised by the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela Alumni Association (NITRAAB) here, Mr. Patnaik said the government’s focus now was on thrust sectors including agro-processing, food-processing, auto components, textile, apparel, ancillary and downstream industries.

Some of the large and mega industries had started to show enthusiasm in participating in ancillary and down-stream development activities thereby maximising the value addition within the state, he said.

Mr. Patnaik said the State was on the threshold of an industrial revolution with a committed investment of more than Rs. 6,00,000 crores in various sectors like steel, alumina, aluminum, power, oil refinery and infrastructure projects like port.

“By now 29 steel projects and one alumina project have gone into commercial production partially. While about Rs. 3,00,000 crores is already at different stages of investment by various companies, additional job opportunities have been created for more than one lakh people,” the Chief Minister said.

He said the State would contribute substantially to the nation’s metal production by adding 45 million tonne per annum (mtpa) of steel, 2 mtpa of aluminum, 10 mtpa of cement and 20,000 mw of power by 2012-13.

Pointing out that the State was well on its way to becoming India’s hub for steel, aluminum and power, Mr. Patnaik said using this metal and energy, the State’s industrial base was expected to diversify.

He called upon investors to participate in developing infrastructure such as road, rail network, ports, power and communication Public-Private-Partnership mode.

“It is my firm belief that the process of industrialisation must be economically inclusive and environmentally compatible for it to be sustainable in the long run,” the Chief Minister said.

The conference saw hundreds of illustrious alumni of NIT, Rourkela spread across globe congregating here.

Former graduates of the institute have scaled great heights in professional excellence by adorning position of scientists at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of America to administrators in Indian Administrative Service, from chairman large public sector units to chief executive of Fortune 500 companies and from path breaking researchers to heads of leading institute of Information Technology.

Among others Industry Minister Biswa Bhushan Harichandan participated in the alumni meet here.

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