Odisha to launch textile park in Bhadrak for youth employment

Bhubaneswar, Sept 6: Odisha's Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain announced in the Assembly on Friday that the state government plans to establish a textile plant in Bhadrak district to create job opportunities for local youth. This decision was shared in response to a query from Congress MLA Sofia Firdous.

Swain elaborated that a major feed cracker unit will be constructed in Paradip, with its by-products being utilized in the Bhadrak textile park. This project will be a joint effort with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).

The minister also highlighted the government's strategy to promote the establishment of more Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to enhance job creation in Odisha. As part of the 2024-25 fiscal Budget, allocations have been made for developing industrial parks, and efforts are underway to help engineers become self-reliant in line with the MSME Development Policy 2022.

In 2023, the BJD government under Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik approved an IOCL proposal to build a dual feed cracker unit in Paradip with an investment of Rs 58,042 crore. This unit will produce a variety of chemicals including ethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), phenol, and iso-propyl alcohol (IPA), with a total capacity of 2,822 tons per annum (KTA).