By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, May 30, 2016 : Odisha has set an ambitious target of creating employment opportunities for four lakh youths by setting up 1.5 lakh small industries by 2018-19, officials said on Monday.

Reviewing the performance of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) department, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik asked the officials to take necessary steps to meet the target by 2018-19.

The state government has facilitated employment opportunities for 1.75 lakh youth by setting up more than 50,000 small industries in 2015-16, official data pointed out.
MSME minister Jogendra Behera said the department would set up 36,000 MSMEs in 2016-17.

“Incubation centres will come up in each district while assistance will be provided to the entrepreneurs through Biju Atma Nijukti Yojana”, Behera said adding that the food park being set up at Rayagada would start functioning by end of this year.

In yet another important decision at the review meeting, steps would be taken to expedite the process for setting up other food parks and Imported Wood Based Cluster at Paradip.

The proposed wood based cluster is expected to provide alternative to wood working industries, besides meeting the wood requirement of people without disturbing the natural forests.

Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (IDCO) will provide 100 acres of land to set up the project while wood would be imported by Paradip port authorities.

The revised draft report of entrepreneurship development policy has already been prepared and it is awaiting approval of the finance department, said an official.