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Global meet to promote investment in Orissa
Wednesday, 06 December 2006, 18:30 IST
New Delhi: A global convention of non-resident Oriyas will be held here Dec 16-17 to promote investment and business opportunities in the eastern state.
Based on the theme of 'Emerging opportunities in Orissa', the convention is being organized by Orissa Forum, a Delhi-based society of professionals from Orissa.
Three seminars - on IT and business process outsourcing (BPO), tourism and hospitality and on health and education - will be held during the course of the two-day convention.
"Orissa, which has been a low growth state, has seen unprecedented level of investment flow in recent times," forum president N.C. Patnaik said at a press conference.
"There is a need to change people's impression of Orissa. The convention aims to do that," he said.
Patnaik added that the convention is not limited to Oriyas alone. Around 250 delegates are expected to attend the convention, which will include captains of Indian industry.
"It is for Orissa - for everyone to benefit from the opportunities Orissa presents," Patnaik said.
The eastern state on the coast of Bay of Bengal has been growing at the rate of three to four percent in recent years.
"But this can go up to seven percent in the years to come because of the high-level of investment," said Ashish Kumar, investment promotion officer in the Orissa Investment and Export Office (OIEPO).
He said the state received 11 percent of the total foreign direct investment that has flowed into India this year, adding that there is potential for $30 billion worth of investment in the state.
Talking about the thrust areas, Kumar said companies like Infosys and Genpact are already in the state. Genpact's 300-seater BPO is going to be expanded to 2,000 seats by 2007.
In the health care sector, a regional center of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is coming up in the state.
Besides this, the Apollo group of hospitals is planning a referral center while the Ranbaxy group is in talks with the state government to set up a branch of its high-end pathological line.
In the hospitality sector, hotel chains like Radisson and Asian ventures are planning to enter the state.
The state is boosting its infrastructure in anticipation of the coming investment and has already signed 13 memorandums of understanding in the power sector, which will result in generation of 42,000 MW of power over two phases.
Besides, a special economic zone is coming up in the Puri-Konark area, Kumar said.
The convention in New Delhi will enable expatriates from Orissa and others interested in investment opportunities in the state to network with government officials.
A five-day Orissa Utsav is also being organized at Dilli Haat from Dec 17-21, Patnaik said.
Source: IANS
Source: IANS