By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, February 27, 2020: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday mooted an exclusive Japan Industrial Cluster and Township near here while talking with the Japanese ambassador Satoshi Suzuki.

He assured that the State government will provide all necessary facilities for the purpose.

A high level official delegation led by union steel and petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan was also present in the meeting.

The chief minister also sough Japan to be the country partner in the forthcoming Make in Odisha conclave to be held in November, this year.

Patnaik said as Odisha has emerged as the highest producer of steel in the country, the State provides ample opportunities for ancillary and downstream industries. Asserting that the State government is focusing on encouraging value addition in steel and stainless steel, Patnaik hoped that the state would have at least 50% value addition by the year 2030 and sought Japanese investments in sectors such as automobile, food processing, chemicals and petro-chemicals.

Giving a presentation, the union steel ministry additional secretary said that the Centre aims at developing eastern India by making it integrated steel hub. The eastern belt has the potential to add more than 75% of the country’s incremental steel capacity envisioned by the National Steel Policy. It is expected that out of the 300 million tonnes capacity by 2030-31, over 200 million tonnes will come from this region, he added.

Odisha steel minister Prafulla Mallick, chief secretary Asit Tripathy and union steel secretary were present in the meeting.