Odisha has successfully garnered investment proposals totaling ₹43,437 crore at the FoodPro 2026 event held in New Delhi, aligning with its ambition to establish a robust food-processing industry in eastern India. This initiative is part of the state’s broader strategy to expand its economy to $500 billion by the year 2036.
The commitments, announced on Friday, comprise 27 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) which represent proposed investments amounting to ₹41,748 crore, alongside 12 letters of intent (LoIs) worth ₹1,689 crore. Collectively, these agreements are anticipated to create 35,252 jobs, with an additional 8,064 employment opportunities linked to the investment intents.
The summit gathered over 300 leaders from various industries, investors, entrepreneurs, and food-processing association representatives. This marked Odisha’s inaugural sector-specific investment roadshow conducted outside its borders.
The push for food processing is intricately connected to Odisha’s larger economic goals. With its economy currently valued at $113 billion, the state aims to reach $500 billion by 2036 and $1.5 trillion by 2047. Furthermore, there are plans to generate 10 million non-farm jobs by 2047, as stated by Chief Secretary Anu Garg.
Odisha’s approach extends beyond merely attracting factories; the government is keen on ensuring that more agricultural and marine products are processed within the state rather than exported in their raw forms. This strategy aims to enhance the value retained in Odisha, improve returns for farmers and fishermen, create rural job opportunities, and expand avenues for exports.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi emphasized to investors that the food processing sector could effectively link agricultural incomes, rural development, and industrial growth. He noted that investment in this sector could generate value closer to production sites, produce rural job opportunities, boost exports, and contribute to the overall economic advancement of the state.
Odisha is capitalizing on its existing resource base to facilitate this growth. The state boasts 10 agro-climatic zones, a 575-kilometer coastline, abundant fisheries resources, developing port infrastructure, and enhanced connectivity. The government believes that these advantages, coupled with supportive policies, will enable companies to access essential raw materials as well as processing, logistics, and both domestic and international markets.
Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain highlighted the opportunity for Odisha to elevate agricultural and marine production up the value chain, rather than limiting it to primary production. The state’s agricultural output includes rice, pulses, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables, and spices, while its tribal regions produce commercially viable commodities like turmeric, tamarind, and honey. Swain expressed the government’s ambition to create an ecosystem where farmers, farmer producer organizations (FPOs), micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), women-led businesses, and large industries can thrive together.
To foster this ecosystem, the government has identified five key priorities: establishing specialized food-processing clusters, developing integrated cold-chain and warehousing infrastructure, enhancing food quality and certification systems, fostering closer ties between FPOs, MSMEs, and women’s self-help groups with the organized industry, and cultivating a competitive skilled workforce on a global scale.
Investment opportunities are also being sought for food parks, cold-chain logistics, testing laboratories, packaging facilities, and export infrastructure. Chief Minister Majhi articulated the broader vision of positioning Odisha as a leading center for value-added food manufacturing over the next decade.
In terms of investment performance, Odisha accounted for 13.1% of India’s total investments in 2025-26, outpacing traditional investment-heavy states, while the average turnaround time for projects was around 160 days.
During the New Delhi event, the Chief Minister engaged in one-on-one discussions with prominent industry figures to explore investment possibilities, partnerships, and initiatives within the food processing and related sectors.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Industries Department, Hemant Sharma, showcased Odisha’s advantages to potential investors, detailing the factors contributing to its emergence as a food-processing hub in eastern India. The event was attended by MSME Department Secretary Rashmita Panda and Ipicol Managing Director Aboli Sunil Naravane, along with other senior government officials and industry stakeholders.
