Mumbai/Bhubaneswar, Oct 23: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has invited domestic and international investors to explore opportunities in the state’s chemicals and petrochemicals sector, pitching Odisha as a promising destination for downstream manufacturing, specialty chemicals and emerging industrial value chains.
Pic Credit: x.com/IPR_Odisha
Addressing the CEO Roundtable at India Chem 2026 in Mumbai on Thursday, Majhi outlined the state government’s vision of transforming Odisha from a predominantly mineral-driven economy into a chemical-led industrial hub. The roundtable was chaired by Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda.
The Chief Minister highlighted Odisha’s port infrastructure, refinery capacity, industrial feedstock availability, established manufacturing base and connectivity to domestic and international markets as key advantages for prospective investors.
He also assured industry representatives that the state would work closely with companies throughout the investment process, from site selection and infrastructure development to regulatory approvals, project execution and commercial operations.
Paradip, Dhamra and Gopalpur in Focus
Odisha’s investment strategy centres on leveraging its coastal infrastructure and industrial clusters to attract new chemical and petrochemical projects.
Majhi identified Paradip, Dhamra and Gopalpur as potential destinations for port-based industries, while Angul and Dhenkanal offer opportunities for projects seeking proximity to metals, coal, power and established industrial consumers.
The state’s existing industrial ecosystem, including steel, aluminium, fertiliser and mining units, provides a substantial potential market for industrial gases, process chemicals, specialised coatings, refractories and water-treatment products.
Odisha is seeking to build on these demand centres by encouraging downstream manufacturing and developing supplier networks that can support both existing industries and new investments.
The state’s 15-million-tonne-per-annum refinery at Paradip, the Paradip Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR), Indian Oil Corporation’s refinery and petrochemical complex, and the Plastic Park at Paradip form important elements of this strategy.
These facilities are expected to support investment opportunities in polymers, packaging, technical textiles and other petrochemical-based products.
Infrastructure and Faster Approvals on the Agenda
Emphasising the need for a supportive industrial ecosystem, Majhi said the state was working towards facilitating shared infrastructure, including common effluent treatment plants, logistics and storage facilities, utility corridors, pipeline connectivity and deep-sea discharge systems, depending on project requirements.
The government also intends to coordinate statutory approvals through a collaborative approach involving the Industries Department, Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha (IPICOL), Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO), the State Pollution Control Board and other relevant agencies.
The aim is to improve coordination and provide investors with greater clarity on project timelines and regulatory requirements. Locations with pre-approved environmental clearances, including at Gopalpur, could also help expedite project development, subject to applicable statutory conditions.
Push for Specialty and Green Chemicals
The Chief Minister encouraged companies to consider investments across a range of emerging and established segments, including coal-to-chemicals, coal-gasification derivatives, specialty chemicals, fluorochemicals, battery materials, advanced polymers, refrigerants and green-chemical value chains.
He reiterated the state government’s willingness to welcome industries, including red-category industrial units, while maintaining environmental safeguards, safety standards and regulatory compliance.
The approach, he indicated, would focus on combining investment facilitation with responsible industrial development.
Odisha Seeks to Expand Beyond Minerals
The investment pitch at India Chem 2026 reflects Odisha’s broader ambition to diversify its industrial base by increasing value addition to its existing resource and infrastructure advantages.
By attracting downstream chemical industries, the state aims to strengthen manufacturing linkages, expand industrial supplier networks and create opportunities across multiple sectors.
The success of the initiative will depend on translating investment interest into projects supported by reliable infrastructure, feedstock availability, efficient clearances and environmental safeguards.
With its ports, refinery infrastructure and established industrial clusters, Odisha is positioning itself to play a larger role in India’s chemicals and petrochemicals industry.
