After snapping ties with industry association CII, the State Government has roped in FICCI to be its industry partner for the forthcoming Make in event and investment promotion activities. Established in 1927, the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) is one of the oldest business organizations in India. On June 8, the State Department disengaged the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as the industry partner months after it communicated its inability to participate in the conclave.
“After discussion with the State Government, business body–FICCI has agreed to be part of the Make in Odisha conclave,” said Industries Minister Ananta Das. The second edition of the Make in Odisha, the biennial conclave is scheduled from 11th to 15th November here. According to official sources, FICCI would help the State Government in organizing investment promotion activities within the country and abroad in the run up to the biennial investors’ meet. It would also assist the State Government to ensure participation of corporate majors in the biz conclave in November.
CII had partnered with the state government to organise the first edition of the Make in Odisha conclave in November-December 2016 during which the State Government received investment intent worth more than Rs. 2 lakh cr.
Decision of the business association not to participate the biz conclave had triggered a political row as the ruling BJD blamed Jagi Mangat Panda, CII’s zone chairperson and wife of former MP Baijayant Panda behind the move. Brushing aside the charges, Jagi had said not to drag her into politics.
The CII’s decision had also forced its Odisha chapter Chairperson and Vice Chairperson to resign from their positions. Meanwhile, the industries minister informed that a delegation led by him would visit and conduct roadshows in Germany, Italy and to showcase Odisha’s investment potential and to attract investment in various sector.
“Besides officials from the State Government, top executives from nine companies will be part of the delegation,” Das said. The State Government looks for investments in focus sectors like ancillary and downstream in metal, food processing including seafood, apparel and textile, electronics manufacturing, chemical, plastic and petrochemical and tourism to create more employment opportunities. Over 60 per cent of the projects, which were received during the Make in Odisha in 2016 has already been approved and under various stages of implementation, said the Industries Minister.
