Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will lead a high-level state delegation to the United Arab Emirates from September 8 to 11 as Odisha steps up its efforts to attract fresh foreign investment and bring more industrial projects to the state.
The visit will take the Chief Minister and senior officials to Dubai, where the delegation is scheduled to meet investors, industry leaders and business representatives. An investment roadshow and a series of government-to-business interactions are planned as part of the outreach.
The state government is expected to present Odisha’s industrial infrastructure, investment policies and sector-specific opportunities to potential investors.
Areas being highlighted include metals and downstream industries, petrochemicals, renewable energy and green hydrogen, food processing, textiles, electronics, ports and logistics.
The timing of the UAE visit is significant for Odisha. The state has been trying to move beyond its traditional image as a base for mining, metals and heavy industries by attracting investment into manufacturing, clean energy, logistics and other higher-value sectors. The government now wants investor interest generated through its international outreach to translate into projects that actually reach the ground.
Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain has said the government will use the Dubai meetings to engage directly with investors and industry leaders. The focus, he indicated, is not simply on investment proposals but on converting earlier interest into projects and employment opportunities within Odisha.
The UAE also has a particularly important connection with Odisha’s recent investment drive. In July, the state signed an MoU with the UAE-based International Holding Company (IHC) group for a proposed â‚ą1.10 lakh crore integrated aluminium project.
The Odisha Chief Minister’s official website described the agreement as involving 53,500 employment opportunities and linked it to the state’s push for green metals and industrial development.
That large investment has given the UAE-Odisha relationship added weight ahead of Majhi’s visit. The new delegation will be looking to build on that momentum and convince more companies and investment groups to consider Odisha for large-scale projects.
For the state, the pitch is built around a combination of natural resources, industrial land, power availability, ports and an established manufacturing base. Odisha’s coastline and major ports also give companies access to markets beyond eastern India, while the government is seeking to develop more downstream industries so that greater value is created within the state.
The visit will also include an interaction with the Odia community in the UAE. The government sees the diaspora as an additional bridge to business and professional networks in the region, particularly at a time when Odisha is trying to deepen its international economic connections.
This will be Majhi’s second foreign investment-focused visit since becoming Chief Minister. He previously led an investment delegation to Singapore in November 2024, where Odisha sought partnerships in areas including technology, renewable energy, infrastructure and manufacturing.
The Dubai visit will therefore be watched not only for the investment announcements it may generate, but also for whether the state can turn international outreach into factories, infrastructure projects and jobs at home.
For Odisha, the real measure of success will ultimately come after the meetings end when promised investments begin moving from boardrooms and MoUs to the ground.
