Bhubaneswar: Odisha attracted investment intents worth Rs 43,437 crore in the food processing sector, with the potential to generate 43,316 jobs, as CM Mohan Charan Majhi unveiled Odisha Food Pro-2026, the state’s first sector-focused investment roadshow outside Odisha, in New Delhi on Friday.The roadshow, attended by over 300 industry leaders, investors, entrepreneurs and representatives of food processing associations, marked Odisha’s push to position itself as a leading destination for value-added food processing. During the event, 27 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 41,748 crore were signed, carrying a projected employment potential of 35,252 jobs. The state also received 12 investment intent forms (IIFs) involving proposed investments of Rs 1,689 crore, expected to generate 8,064 jobs.Addressing the gathering, Majhi said, “Food processing was not merely an industrial activity but a critical link between farmer prosperity, rural transformation and Odisha’s industrial growth.” He said the state’s focus was to ensure that more agricultural and marine produce generated in Odisha is processed within the state, creating higher incomes for farmers and employment opportunities for youth.The chief minister highlighted Odisha’s competitive advantages, including abundant raw material availability, ten agro-climatic zones, a 575-km coastline, a strong fisheries sector, expanding port infrastructure and improving logistics connectivity. He said these strengths, coupled with investor-friendly policies, provide a conducive ecosystem for food processing industries.Outlining the state’s long-term vision, Majhi announced a strategy built on five pillars: development of specialised food processing clusters, expansion of integrated cold chain and warehousing infrastructure, strengthening food quality and certification systems, deeper integration of farmer producer organisations (FPOs), MSMEs and women self-help groups with industry, and creation of a globally competitive skilled workforce.Industry minister Sampad Chandra Swain said Odisha aims to emerge as a globally competitive hub for value-added food processing by leveraging its agricultural and marine resources. He said the state is building an integrated ecosystem that enables farmers, FPOs, MSMEs, women-led enterprises and large industries to grow together while generating jobs and enhancing rural incomes.On the sidelines of the event, the chief minister held a series of one-on-one meetings with leading industry representatives to discuss project-specific opportunities and long-term partnerships. The engagements formed part of the Odisha government’s two-day investment outreach programme in New Delhi aimed at attracting quality investments into the state.Officials said Odisha Food Pro 2026 signals a focused strategy to convert Odisha’s agricultural strength into globally competitive industries, boost exports, increase farmer incomes and create large-scale employment, reinforcing the state’s ambition to become a growth engine for eastern India.
