Odisha poised to become India’s Eastern Maritime Gateway, says Swain
Bhubaneswar, Sept 25 (UNI) Odisha is set to become India’s eastern maritime gateway and a driver of sustainable industrial growth, said Industries, Skill Development, and Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain.
Addressing a roadshow in Bhubaneswar on the theme ‘Evolving Dynamics of the Indian Maritime Sector: From Scale to Vision”, organized by the Paradip Port Authority, Swain emphasized that Odisha’s maritime growth agenda aligns with Viksit Bharat 2047.
The event is part of a series of promotional activities nationwide ahead of India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025. Highlighting opportunities in the blue economy and inclusive skills development, particularly women’s participation, Swain reiterated the state government’s full support for projects such as Bahuda Port and shipbuilding/repair facilities at Kendrapara, proposed by Paradip Port.
He added that these initiatives will advance the vision of Viksit Odisha 2036. Paradip Port Chairman PL Haranadh said that India Maritime Week 2025, scheduled in Mumbai from October 27-31, will be a five-day global forum featuring participation from over 100 maritime nations, 200 international speakers, 500 exhibitors.
Swain said discussions will cover port modernisation, capacity enhancement, green shipping, climate-conscious navigation, shipbuilding, insurance, finance, and maritime security, with active participation from India’s coastal states, including Odisha.
Haranadh said the Ministry is planning MoUs worth over Rs.10 lakh crore, of which Paradip Port alone expects more than Rs.1 lakh crore.
He cited MoUs signed by the Odisha government last week during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s event in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, including projects such as the Rs.. 21,500 crore Bahuda Port, a Rs. 24,700 crore shipbuilding hub at the Mahanadi mouth, and a cruise terminal at Puri.
Addressing the gathering, Principal Secretary of Housing & Urban Development and Commerce & Transport, Usha Padhee, outlined the state’s vision for a competitive and inclusive maritime sector under Vision Odisha 2036 and 2047.
She said a roadmap has been drawn to expand port capacity from the current 80 million tonnes per annum to 800 million tonnes per annum by 2047, through modernisation, new infrastructure, and the proposed Odisha Maritime Board.
Padhee stressed the role of port-led development in realising the Prime Minister’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision and called for greater domestic participation, sustainable infrastructure, and innovation.
She underlined the need to increase women’s participation in the maritime sector to ensure growth that is both sustainable and inclusive.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Industries Department and Chairman of IPICOL, Hemant Sharma, emphasised the strong linkages between Odisha’s industrial growth and the maritime sector, noting that both sectors drive each other’s expansion.
He added that to sustain Odisha’s economy, growing at 8-9 per cent, outpacing the national average, the state must be integrated into a strong global value chain.
Sharma also noted that following the recent MoU signed with Paradip Port Authority, investors are already showing strong interest in shipbuilding and repair facilities.