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The Odisha government has scheduled Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to lead an investment delegation to the United Arab Emirates from September 9 to 11. The programme will centre on meetings with sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions and industry representatives in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, according to a state government statement. Targeted discussions will cover foreign direct investment, technology collaboration and value-chain integration, with a particular emphasis on export-oriented manufacturing. The outreach forms part of ongoing efforts to position Odisha as a preferred destination for international capital.
State Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain outlined the key sectors that will feature in presentations to UAE partners, the statement said. These include metallurgy and downstream metals industries, food and seafood exports, port-based industrial parks and logistics facilities. Additional focus areas encompass shipbuilding parks, dedicated rare earth corridors, slurry pipeline infrastructure and chemical and petrochemical projects. Swain noted that the delegation would highlight Odisha’s infrastructure strengths and policy framework designed to streamline approvals.
Mohan Charan Majhi described the visit as an opportunity to forge enduring ties with Gulf investors. “Our focus is on building long-term partnerships that can transform Odisha’s industrial ecosystem, strengthen value chains and create new opportunities for our people,” he said in the government statement. The chief minister’s trip follows a landmark agreement signed in July with Abu Dhabi-based International Holding Company and the Adani Group for an integrated aluminium project valued at Rs 1.1 lakh crore, The Times of India reported. That venture, located in Sundargarh district, is projected to generate more than 53,500 direct and indirect jobs while advancing value addition in the state’s mineral sector.
Additional Chief Secretary for Industries Hemant Sharma explained that the UAE programme was advanced to match the pace of investment outreach by other states. Sharma told local media that the delegation has lined up approximately 60 meetings with entities including the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Mubadala Investment Company and Emirates Global Aluminium. The schedule also incorporates roundtables with Indian business groups and professionals based in the UAE. Officials plan to present around 30 specific investable projects during the engagements.
The state government has conducted multiple international roadshows in recent years to support its flagship Utkarsh Odisha event. Earlier missions to Singapore, Delhi and Mumbai emphasised similar themes of skilled manpower, single-window clearances and strategic coastal access, according to reports in The Hindu BusinessLine. Sharma indicated that the current visit will also connect with the Odia diaspora to broaden networks for trade and investment. The outreach aligns with Odisha’s longer-term goals under its Vision 2036 framework.
Odisha’s recent policy initiatives have included the approval of a Global Capability Centre framework and an updated IT policy aimed at drawing technology-driven investments. The state government has pointed to its recognition in business reform rankings as evidence of an improving environment for investors. Sharma added that the UAE trip would seek both direct commitments and foundational relationships that could mature into future collaborations across the identified sectors.
