Bhubaneswar
According to Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha has significant potential to thrive in the start-up arena, thanks to its robust educational infrastructure and emphasis on skill development.
During a plenary session on start-ups at the Utkarsh Odisha, Make in Odisha Conclave 2025, which commenced here on Tuesday, Pradhan highlighted that Odisha is poised to commemorate two centenaries—the centenary of the formation of Orissa State in 1936 and 100 years of Indian Independence in 1947.
He emphasized that the state’s ‘Double Engine’ government is committed to fostering a supportive environment for the start-up ecosystem and expressed a goal of cultivating 100 start-ups, each generating a turnover of ₹100 crore.
“We must establish a new ecosystem and implement growth-oriented policies. Our challenge lies in the creation of a circular economy,” stated Pradhan.
He also mentioned that the State Government will soon unveil a new start-up policy.
Drawing a parallel with Silicon Valley, which successfully integrates innovation and a supportive ecosystem for technological advancement, he asserted that Odisha has the potential to nurture numerous start-ups over the next twenty years.
Pradhan noted that Odisha boasts a long-standing history of trade and industry, alongside a favorable geographic location in the eastern part of the country. It is time to embrace the knowledge economy and foster new ideas in the 21st century, he added.
The three-day conclave is attracting over 500 industry delegates, including more than 100 international participants. Country representatives from Singapore, Australia, and Malaysia are leading discussions on collaborations, with delegations hailing from nations such as Vietnam, Zimbabwe, Kazakhstan, Venezuela, the UK, the USA, and Nepal also expected to attend.
The Make in Odisha Expo, featuring nearly 150 exhibitors, will showcase innovative products and will be open to the general public on January 30.
