In a significant step towards strengthening Odisha’s position in the critical minerals sector, a delegation from the World Bank Group on Wednesday held detailed discussions with Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg and senior state government officials on developing a strong value chain ecosystem for critical minerals in Odisha and India.
The discussions focused on potential collaboration in areas such as establishment of critical mineral processing parks, manufacturing, investments, logistics infrastructure, industrial corridor development, skill enhancement and technology support.
The meeting underscored the importance of coordinated efforts among the Government of India, the Odisha government and industry stakeholders for creating a world-class and resilient critical minerals ecosystem in the state. The participants stressed that Odisha, with its rich mineral reserves and industrial base, has the potential to emerge as a major hub in the country’s critical minerals landscape.
Among those present at the meeting were Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary of Steel and Mines Department Deoranjan Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary of Industries Department Hemant Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary of Revenue and Disaster Management Department Arvind Kumar Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Department Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary of Finance Department Sanjeev Kumar Mishra along with secretaries of various other departments.