THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, MAY 14, 2026

The Odisha Steel Producers’ Association (OSPA) has taken a significant step towards strengthening Odisha’s steel ecosystem by formalizing its governance framework and outlining an ambitious roadmap for sustainable industrial growth in the state.

The Association convened its first Apex Committee meeting on May 13, 2026, at its registered office in Bhubaneswar under the chairmanship of OSPA President Asit Kumar Tripathy. The high-level meeting witnessed participation from senior representatives of leading steel and allied industries, including Tata Steel, Jindal Steel, JSW Steel, Jindal Stainless, Aarti Steel Ltd, Rungta Mines Ltd, Essar Minmet, Narbheram Power & Steel Pvt Ltd and the SNM Group.

The deliberations reflected strong industry alignment with the Government of Odisha’s vision of enhancing the state’s steel production capacity to 130 million tonnes by 2030.

During the meeting, the Apex Committee formally adopted OSPA’s bylaws, institutionalizing its governance framework as a Section 8 not-for-profit company. The Committee also approved the Association’s Annual Budget and Establishment Plan for FY 2026–27, with a focused thrust on structured industry advocacy and policy engagement.

Addressing the gathering, Asit Kumar Tripathy stressed the need for a comprehensive review of routine permissions and approval mechanisms to improve ease of doing business and accelerate industrial growth in Odisha. “We should work towards a comprehensive proposal that removes unnecessary and redundant requirements with the objective of accelerating industrial growth in Odisha,” he said.

To strengthen policy advocacy and provide focused technical inputs, OSPA announced the formation of specialized sub-committees comprising industry experts. These committees will focus on critical areas such as raw material supply, logistics, environment & forests, and land & rehabilitation, ensuring that the Association’s recommendations are backed by technical expertise and broad industry consensus.

Speaking on the occasion, OSPA Secretary General Sushil Kumar Popli highlighted the Association’s guiding philosophy of “Institutional Empathy.”

 “OSPA is a bridge between industry and the State. Our objective is to foster a collaborative ecosystem where industrial growth and regulatory priorities move in harmony. Through our specialized sub-committees, we aim to deliver actionable solutions to sectoral bottlenecks,” Popli said.

The Association also unveiled an ambitious activity calendar for the current financial year featuring flagship initiatives and sectoral engagements, with special emphasis on Green Steel and sustainable industrial practices.

With its GST registration and permanent Secretariat now operational, Odisha Steel Producers’ Association is set to launch an extensive membership drive aimed at bringing downstream industries into its fold and creating a more unified and representative platform for Odisha’s entire steel ecosystem.