Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is on a visit to UAE, with an objective to attract investment into the state and expand Odisha’s trade and business links with the UAE. On Wednesday, he held a series of meetings with UAE-based investors and business groups in Abu Dhabi.

A key outcome was an MoU between the Odisha government, UAE-based International Holding Company (IHC) and the Adani Group to explore 14 new projects involving an estimated investment of Rs. 2,10,500 crore ($2.105 Trillion). The projects have the potential to create around 8,68,200  jobs. The proposed projects cover a wide range of sectors, including metal downstream industries, slurry pipelines, critical minerals and rare earths, chemicals and petrochemical derivatives, renewable energy equipment, healthcare, industrial infrastructure, tourism, skill development and sports infrastructure.

The meeting also reviewed progress on an integrated aluminium project being developed in the state. Odisha has proposed land in Rayagada district for an alumina refinery and in Sundargarh district for an aluminium smelter.

Mr Mohan Charan Majhi also met members of the Indian Business and Professional Group (IBPG) in the UAE. The two sides signed a Memorandum of Cooperation aimed at increasing trade and investment between Odisha and the UAE. Discussions included promoting exports of Odisha products such as turmeric, ginger and seafood, as well as opportunities for contract manufacturing for UAE companies.

In another meeting, the Chief Minister invited Borouge, a UAE-based petrochemicals company, to explore setting up a large chemicals downstream complex in Odisha, with potential feedstock linkages to Indian Oil Corporation’s planned naphtha cracker at Paradip.

The Chief Minister also held discussions with UAE-based investment institutions on opportunities to participate in Odisha’s infrastructure projects through public-private partnerships, including projects related to ports and other infrastructure.