Odisha unveils ‘Go East’ initiative, expands industrial incentives to 15 backward districts

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday announced key amendments to the state’s Industrial Policy Resolution (IPR)-2022, extending enhanced incentives to non-mineral-based industries in 15 economically backward districts as part of a broader strategy to promote balanced regional development and accelerate industrialisation.

The announcement was made at the CII Eastern Regional Council Meeting 2026, where the Chief Minister also unveiled ‘Go East’, a new investment facilitation platform aimed at positioning Odisha as the industrial growth engine of eastern and northeastern India.

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Under the revised policy, districts including Bolangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Kandhamal, Boudh and Gajapati will be designated as ‘Thrust Sector’ districts, making them eligible for additional incentives to attract industries beyond the mining sector.

Majhi said the ‘Go East’ initiative—short for Government of Odisha-Eastern Investment Accelerator and Special Task Force—is designed to attract investments from across eastern and northeastern India while promoting industrial growth in Odisha’s border and backward regions.

“The next major chapter of India’s growth story will be written in eastern India,” the Chief Minister said, expressing confidence that Odisha would emerge as the region’s leading industrial destination over the next five years.

To facilitate investments, the government will constitute a high-level Special Task Force to fast-track projects, establish a dedicated ‘Go East Cell’ within the Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha (IPICOL), and introduce a ‘Go Swift’ digital module for real-time monitoring of project approvals and implementation.

Highlighting the state’s improving business climate, Majhi said reforms under Deregulation 1.0 and 2.0 have reduced the average time required to establish industries from nearly 400 days to less than 160 days. The government now aims to bring it down to under 100 days.

Since June 2024, the state has approved 477 industrial projects worth nearly Rs 9.5 lakh crore, with the potential to generate employment for around six lakh people, he said. Of these, 12 projects involving investments of over Rs 3.11 lakh crore have already broken ground and are nearing commissioning.

The Chief Minister said Odisha is diversifying beyond its traditional mineral-based economy by promoting sectors such as steel, aluminium, chemicals, petrochemicals, semiconductors and electronics, while leveraging its strategic location, abundant natural resources and skilled workforce.

Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain said the government is aligning skill development programmes with industry requirements to ensure the availability of a trained workforce, adding that the ‘Go East’ initiative would usher in a new phase of industrial growth in the state’s border and backward districts.

The meeting was attended by senior government officials, industry leaders and representatives of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).