20 Orissa steel projects into production: Patnaik

Twenty steel projects with an estimated investment of Rs 12,000 crore (Rs 120 billion) have gone into production in Orissa so far creating direct and indirect employment opportunities for about 25,000 people, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said.

"I am confident that this trend shall lead to the fructification of all projects for which memoranda of understanding have been signed and Orissa shall truely emerge as one of the most competitive steel, aluminium and power hub of the world," Patnaik said after inaugurating 'Enterprise Orissa 2006', the state's biggest industrial fair, here last night.

The government had signed MoUs to add in excess of 50 mt per annum capacity in steel making, four mt per annum in alumina refining and 15 mt per annum in chemical refining and 13,000 mw in power generation by 2010-2011, he said.

When these industries go on stream, they would create direct employment of 1,50,000

people and trigger growth of huge indirect employment of multiple magnitudes, he said.

The fair, now an annual feature, is organised by the Orissa chapter of Confederation of Indian Industry in collaboration with the state industries department and other industrial houses.

CII (Eastern Region) Chairman Bhushan Raina and CII (Orissa state council) Chairman Subhrakant Panda and the state's Industries Secretary I Srinivas were also present at the inaugural function.

As many as 120 stalls were set up by 85 major industries, including POSCO-India Ltd, Tata Steel, Bhushan Steel and Power Ltd, Vedanta Alumina Ltd and Nalco at the five-day event.

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