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The Odisha government said its three-day investment outreach in the United Arab Emirates concluded on Friday with proposals worth Rs 2.43 lakh crore that carry potential to generate 618,725 jobs if all projects materialise. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi led the delegation through Abu Dhabi and Dubai, where participants signed eight memorandums of understanding and submitted 16 investment intent forms after 26 one-on-one meetings and six roundtable discussions. The programme attracted roughly 400 business leaders, institutional investors and representatives of the Odia diaspora who explored partnerships in manufacturing, technology and resource-based industries.
Official figures released by the state government broke the total into Rs 2.105 lakh crore secured on the opening day in Abu Dhabi, Rs 8,417 crore on the second day and Rs 24,245 crore on the final day in Dubai. The lead agreement on day one involved International Holding Company and the Adani Group to examine 14 projects ranging from metal downstream units and critical minerals to renewable energy equipment, healthcare facilities and tourism infrastructure. That pact builds on a July memorandum for an integrated aluminium venture, with sites already designated for an alumina refinery in Rayagada district and a smelter unit in Sundargarh district.
Among other commitments, CAZBAA Project Ventures FZCO signed a memorandum for LNG storage infrastructure while Rana Holdings Limited agreed to pursue green energy, artificial intelligence data centres and rare earth processing, the Chief Minister’s Office reported. Sharaf Group entered an MoU in the housing sector and PTCL Infrastructure signalled interest in steel and downstream manufacturing. Investment intents also arrived from Dalwin Marine and Turbo Power Engineering for ship-repair yards, Ion Technologies for a propellant plant and Agrifields FZCO for fertiliser and chemical units.
The outreach covered travel and tourism, logistics, financial services, processed food, critical minerals, aluminium, steel and emerging areas such as circular economy initiatives, according to a government statement. Majhi used the platform to highlight Odisha’s mineral resources, port connectivity and policy framework designed to accelerate project execution. Speaking after the concluding investors’ meet in Dubai, the chief minister described the visit as opening a new chapter in the state’s engagement with Gulf capital and technology providers.
This UAE campaign adds to momentum generated by the Utkarsh Odisha summit held in January 2025, which drew proposals worth Rs 16.73 lakh crore and employment potential of 12.88 lakh across 20 sectors, the Industries Department stated at the time. That earlier event produced 145 signed memorandums and 448 investment intents, with strong participation from international delegates. The current drive focuses more narrowly on Gulf-based partners and specific high-value segments where Odisha holds natural advantages.
Majhi posted on social media that the delegation had presented the state’s strong industrial ecosystem, investor-friendly policies and opportunities across emerging high-growth sectors while inviting UAE businesses to partner in Odisha’s continued development. The government indicated that follow-up mechanisms would track conversion of these proposals into ground-level implementation. Such global roadshows form a central element of the state’s strategy to diversify beyond traditional mining and establish itself as a hub for value-added manufacturing and sustainable industry.
