By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 20, 2024: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday made a strong pitch for Odisha as India’s premier investment destination and urged Singapore-based business houses to invest in the state.

Majhi also invited Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam during his visit to India in January 2025 and said Singapore’s petrochemical industry and port models will be adopted in the development of Paradeep Port in the coastal state.

“We have invited president Tharman to visit Odisha in January,” he said, listing out studies he and his delegation carried out during their four-day tour to Singapore. “Jurong Island Petrochemical Industrial base and Tuas Port models will be adopted in the ongoing multi-billion-dollar development at Paradeep Port,” he said on Wednesday.

An agreement is being worked out with Surbana Jurong, a Singapore government-owned engineering consultancy, to help work on the Jurong and Tuas models, he added.

Earlier on Tuesday, addressing a gathering of business leaders at his first investment road show in Singapore, he presented Odisha as a land of opportunities and said, the state’s focus on sustainable development, industry-ready infrastructure, and ease of doing business makes it the best investment destination in the country.

“We are focused on revitalising eastern India. With its rich resources, world-class infrastructure and skilled workforce, Odisha is ready to lead India’s growth story,” he said and invited them to attend Utkarsh Odisha: Make-in-Odisha Conclave 2025. Talks are in progress for 25 Singapore-based companies for participation in the ‘Make in Odisha Conclave 2025’.

These companies will be led by Enterprise Singapore, a state agency for promotion of investment and trade. The Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Singapore Business Federation have been urged to lead delegates to the conclave, he said. Majhi held a roundtable with 15 companies led by Enterprise Singapore.

Majhi assured investors of government support through streamlined processes, incentives and fast-track approvals to ensure a smooth journey from concept to implementation. “Over the past three days, we have engaged with industry leaders, visited advanced ports and industrial complexes, and gained valuable insights to enhance Odisha’s development,” he said.

The road show marked the beginning of the state’s global outreach under Majhi’s leadership. Accompanied by Industries minister Sampad Chandra Swain, the CM engaged in high-level G2G discussions with Singapore’s Minister of Transport Chee Hong Tat on Odisha’s goal of developing integrated multimodal logistics solutions, drawing inspiration from the latter’s advanced transportation systems as well as digital freight management and coastal shipping.

The chief minister said that construction of the second phase of the World Skill Centre at Bhubaneswar, modelled on Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education (ITE), will start next month. Today, 4,000 students have graduated from the ITES first phase, and the second phase campus will have capacity to accommodate 2,000 students each year.

Majhi visited various facilities including a port logistics centre, a semiconductor plant and an electronics hub as well as international shipping groups AP Moller and Maersk. A Maersk managing director is expected to visit Odisha later this month for the planned logistics hub in the state.

“We are studying the urban transportation network and road planning of Singapore,” Majhi said, adding that there is a need to study Singapore’s road management and public transport system.

Besides, 24 interns from Phase I of World Skill Centre, designed by ITES of Singapore, are now studying in city state’s top engineering institute, said the chief minister, adding that plans are to continue sending more batches of interns to Singapore.

During his visit, Majhi also met senior executives of Singapore-based companies including those from GIC, Sembcorp, Everstone Capital and Linde as well as shipping giants AP Moller and Maersk.

He also called on Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Kiat and met Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sim Ann and Transport Minister Cheng.