THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

ABU DHABI/BHUBANESWAR, SEPTEMBER 9, 2026

Odisha is stepping up its investment outreach in the United Arab Emirates, seeking to deepen ties with UAE investors and businesses across petrochemicals, food processing, exports, manufacturing and skilled talent, as Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi leads a series of high-level business and diplomatic engagements.

As part of the Odisha Investors’ Meet in the UAE, Majhi and the state delegation are holding discussions with leading UAE business groups, investment institutions and the Indian business community, pitching Odisha as an emerging destination for industrial investment and international trade.

A key engagement on Wednesday was a roundtable with the Indian Business & Professional Group (IBPG) in Abu Dhabi, where discussions centred on strengthening India-UAE business relations and facilitating greater exchange of goods, exports and trade between Odisha and the UAE.

The discussions identified opportunities in turmeric, ginger, seafood, food processing and contract manufacturing for leading UAE brands, opening potential avenues for Odisha-based producers and enterprises to tap into the fast-growing Gulf market. The meeting also examined opportunities to deploy highly skilled professionals from Odisha to the UAE.

Odisha-based companies Ruchi and Farrm B, B-one, which already have a presence in the UAE, participated in the interaction, while IBPG president Rajiv Shah also attended the meeting.

The state is simultaneously seeking to attract larger institutional investments. The Odisha delegation is scheduled to hold a roundtable with International Holding Company (IHC) and its business verticals and group companies to explore investment opportunities and build stronger industry partnerships with the state.

Another significant engagement is with Hazeem Sultan Al Suwaidi, CEO of Borouge, with discussions expected to focus on the petrochemicals sector and potential investment and collaboration opportunities in Odisha. The engagement assumes significance as the state seeks to expand its industrial base and attract investments into emerging and high-value manufacturing sectors.

The Odisha delegation will also engage with leading UAE investment institutions, showcasing the state's industrial strengths, emerging sectors and investment opportunities as it seeks to position itself more prominently on the global investment map.

The UAE outreach will extend beyond large industrial investments to Odisha's traditional industries and local enterprises. In Dubai, the delegation will inaugurate a display of Odisha’s One District One Product (ODOP) offerings, providing local producers, artisans and handicraft enterprises an opportunity to showcase their products to UAE consumers and buyers.

The Chief Minister and the delegation are also scheduled to meet the Consul General of India in Dubai, with discussions expected to focus on strengthening the institutional and community-level links underpinning the Odisha-UAE economic engagement.

The UAE programme underscores Odisha’s broader strategy of combining its industrial investment proposition with export opportunities for local businesses, access to international markets and employment avenues for its skilled workforce.