Odisha Channel Bureau
Bhubaneswar: Industries as well as Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) generate livelihood opportunities. But the MSMEs create maximum opportunities for economic prosperity, said Minister of State (Independent charge) for Industries and MSME Dibya Shankar Mishra here on Saturday.
Mishra was the chief guest in a webinar – ‘Ease of doing business in MSME in Odisha’ – organised by Odisha Corporate Foundation (OCF), a non-profit organization dedicated to social service prioritizing economic development of the state.
It is high time we strengthened the economy of our State by engaging over 10 lakh youth and thousands of skilled labourers who have returned to Odisha due to the current pandemic, in MSME sector, he added.
“Industries are now keen to invest in Odisha which is known for its rich natural resources; modern aviation and road transportation infrastructure; and a rich legacy of commerce. Amid global economic turmoil, it is an encouraging sign that Odisha could grab an investment Rs. 1,700 crore,” he pointed out.
Mishra urged the youth of the state to take advantage of factors like such as conducive business environment, entrepreneurial ecosystem, a supportive government, modern infrastructure and transparent industrial policy which have made Odisha an attractive investment destination.
He called upon the youth to invest in information technology and pharmacy sectors during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to get the maximum profit. All these measures can give a boost to the MSME sector that has the potential to provide quality life to the economically backward people and strengthen the economy of the state.
“Odisha took time to prosper industrially. So, it is high time the state government ensured proper implementation of its MSME policy,” said co-chair of India Chamber of Commerce’s Odisha state council J B Pani. The chief speaker in the webinar, Pani, informed the audience that over 200 small-scale industries of Japan are willing to invest in Odisha.
Shantanu Rath of OCF urged the youth to transform themselves from being ‘job seekers’ to ‘job creators.’ The youth can get mentoring support from the OCF in their entrepreneurial endeavors, he added.
Former Chief Secretary of Odisha Bijay Patnaik moderated the meeting while Manoj Sahu of Bangalore proposed the vote of thanks. OCF president H K Behera took part in the webinar.
