Odisha offers exclusive Japanese industrial cluster & township

Bhubaneswar, Feb 27 () With Japan governmentexpressing interest to invest in Odisha's steel sector, thestate government on Thursday offered an exclusive JapaneseIndustrial Cluster & Township near here.

Already in pact with some Indian industries withstakes in Odisha, Japan has expressed keen interest to investin different sectors including steel and tourism in the state.

Japanese Ambassador to India, Santoshi Suzuki, who metOdisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here along with UnionSteel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, said they are interested toinvest in the state.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik made an offer for anexclusive Japan Industrial Cluster and Township near here.

Patnaik also urged the Japanese Ambassador to considerto be a partner country for the Make-in-Odisha Conclave-2020.

"We had a very good discussion regarding the futureinvestment in this very important state in the area of steelindustry," Suzuki told reporters.

Asked about any specific plan for the immediateinvestment in the state, Suzuki said, "I represent thegovernment. The Japanese businessmen and industries willdecide on that mater. However, Odisha has huge potential insteel, tourism and other sectors."

Union Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan who hails fromthe state said, "Japanese company Nippon and ArcelorMittalhave a joint venture to develop Esar Steel Pellet plant atParadip while Japan's JFE Holdings and JSW Steel Ltd have tiedup for Bhushan Steel Ltd."

The Japanese are indirectly investing in Odisha, hesaid.

In order to meet India's goal of achieving 300 MTPAsteel production, Pradhan said Odisha will have a major role.

Therefore, he said, the steel sector in the stateshould grow.

"Both the Government of India and the Government ofOdisha have informed Suzuki about the facilities to beprovided to Japanese investors," Pradhan said.

The state government also informed the Japanesedelegation that Odisha now is the highest producer of steel inIndia and will provide a huge opportunity for ancillary anddownstream industry. AAMNN NN