Leaders chart roadmap for ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ and ‘Viksit Odisha 2036’ at Bhubaneswar conference

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, OCTOBER 10, 2025

A one-day conference on “Viksit Bharat 2047 & Viksit Odisha 2036” was held today at KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, bringing together senior government officials, industry leaders, and policymakers to discuss strategies for driving inclusive and sustainable growth in Odisha and across India.

The conference was graced by Pradeep Kumar Jena, Chairman, OERC, as the Chief Guest, and attended by prominent dignitaries including Hemant Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary (Industries), Government of Odisha; Dr. Arun Kumar Panda, Chairman, OSFC; Ardhendu Mohapatra, President – Corporate Affairs, Hindalco Industries Ltd; and Dr. Tapan Kumar Chand, former CMD, NALCO and Chairman of the Organising Committee.

In his address, Ardhendu Mohapatra highlighted Odisha’s growing prominence in India’s industrial map and reaffirmed the private sector’s pivotal role in achieving the nation’s development goals. He shared that the Aditya Birla Group has invested around ₹40,000 crore in Odisha across sectors like aluminium, mining, cement, chemicals, and apparel, generating employment for nearly 30,000 people — more than 82 per cent of whom belong to the state.

Mohapatra further announced plans for fresh investments of about ₹50,000 crore, which are expected to create an additional 15,000 jobs. The upcoming projects include a new alumina refinery at Kansariguda in Koraput district and expansion of aluminium and FRP plants in Sambalpur district.

Emphasizing the Group’s community-centric approach, he spoke about extensive CSR initiatives that have improved education, healthcare, and livelihoods in peripheral regions. “Our initiatives in Rayagada and Sambalpur have spurred downstream industries and significantly uplifted the living standards of local communities,” he said, citing Utkal Alumina’s transformative work in Kashipur block.

Speakers at the conference underscored the importance of collaborative efforts among government, industry, and academia in realizing the twin visions of Viksit Bharat 2047 and Viksit Odisha 2036.

The deliberations concluded with a collective resolve to align investments, policies, and innovation toward building a prosperous, self-reliant, and inclusive Odisha in the coming decade.