Bhubaneswar, May 6 (IANS) Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday called for a “two-coast strategy” to drive India’s next phase of industrial growth, asserting that the east coast will play a defining role in the country’s economic expansion.

CM Majhi, who is on a three-day visit to Gujarat, made the remarks while addressing industry leaders during his visit to Mundra Port and other industrial facilities on Wednesday.

“India’s growth cannot remain one-sided. The next phase of industrial expansion must be powered by the East Coast,” the CM said.

Calling for a structural shift, he proposed a ‘two-coast strategy’, urging industry leaders to integrate operations across both seaboards, leveraging western strength while tapping eastern opportunities.

“Balanced coastal development is essential for India’s long-term competitiveness. The East Coast will play a defining role in the next decade of growth,” he added.

Drawing from the scale and efficiency of India’s western coastline, Majhi made a strong case for accelerating development along the eastern seaboard, positioning Odisha as a natural gateway for the country’s next wave of industrial growth.

He noted that while the West Coast has emerged as a major hub for maritime trade and industrial activity, the East Coast is now at a decisive inflection point, with Odisha ready to replicate and scale similar success.

“What has been achieved on the West Coast must now be expanded on the East. Odisha offers the ecosystem, connectivity, and policy support to enable that transition,” he said.

Highlighting Odisha’s strategic access to Southeast Asia, East Asia, and the Indo-Pacific region, the Chief Minister emphasised its growing importance in India’s global trade architecture and supply chain diversification.

The visit was led by the Chief Minister along with Industry Minister Sampad Chandra Swain and senior state government officials. The delegation engaged with industry stakeholders, presenting Odisha’s policy framework, infrastructure readiness, and facilitation-driven governance model.

As part of the visit, the delegation undertook a guided tour of Mundra Port via the Mundra Industrial Area and SEZ, covering key facilities including the Container Jetty and the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Jetty, demonstrating large-scale cargo handling capabilities.

The delegation also passed through the West Port area and a copper manufacturing unit and visited solar cell and wind turbine component manufacturing facilities, reflecting the scale of integrated industrial development.

CM Majhi stated that the Odisha government has approved 433 investment proposals worth Rs 8.37 lakh crore, while 148 projects worth Rs 2.86 lakh crore have already been grounded.

“In Odisha, investment intent is translating into implementation with speed and scale,” he said.

He further underlined opportunities across logistics, chemicals, petrochemicals, and downstream manufacturing, supported by expanding infrastructure and industrial ecosystems.

–IANS

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