Mumbai, Oct 27: Odisha on Tuesday made a powerful pitch as India’s emerging eastern maritime gateway at the India Maritime Week 2025, showcasing its ambitious port-led development strategy and signing MoUs worth Rs 50,000 crore, officials said.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi led the state’s delegation, emphasizing Odisha’s commitment to building a globally competitive, sustainable maritime economy.

Strategic Vision for Coastal Growth

Speaking at the inaugural session alongside Union Home Minister Amit Shah, CM Majhi declared Odisha’s ports as future engines of trade, industry, and employment. He highlighted the state’s strategic location, robust infrastructure, and investor-friendly policies as key enablers of its maritime transformation.

Also Read: India Maritime Week 2025: CM Majhi Highlights Odisha’s Maritime Legacy

Major Projects and MoUs

Odisha’s showcase included two transformational projects:

• Bahuda Port: Rs 21,500 crore investment for an all-weather satellite port

• Shipbuilding Cluster at Mahanadi Mouth: Rs 22,700 crore investment

Other MoUs included:

• Rs 500 crore each for cruise terminals at Puri and Paradip

• Operationalisation of National Waterway-5

•  Maritime Museum and 4-lane road with IPRCL

•  Academic collaboration between Berhampur University and Indian Maritime University

Investment Proposals Received

Two major proposals were received:

• Reliance Consumer Ltd: Rs 938 crore for a food and beverage facility in Khordha

•  Jain Metals: Rs 2,100 crore for a titanium plant in Ganjam

Odisha’s Maritime Roadmap

CM Majhi outlined Odisha’s plan to expand port handling capacity to 500 million tonnes by 2047, develop 14 non-major ports, and integrate tourism, cruise, and blue economy initiatives. He reaffirmed the state’s focus on local employment, skill development, and inclusive growth.

Maritime Power, Global Vision

India Maritime Week 2025, inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, is being held at the NESCO Grounds in Mumbai from October 27 to 31. With participation from over 100 countries and 100,000 delegates, the event is themed “Uniting Oceans, One Maritime Vision” and aims to position India as a global maritime hub.

The Maritime Week is set to unlock Rs10 lakh crore in investment commitments, with Odisha poised to benefit significantly from this maritime momentum. Odisha’s participation marked a milestone in its journey toward becoming a global maritime hub.