It's good news for people of Orissa. The state government will now force companies investing in the state to provide at least 90% of the jobs in their projects to the locals.

Orissa Govt. has taken a decision in this regard. According to a top official in the industries dept. investors will have to reserve 90% of the skilled and unskilled jobs for the locals.  Meanwhile, it has asked various companies who have signed MoU to give a detailed report about the same. The report will carry total number of jobs created by the company and the number of Oriya people engaged in that. If required, the government will do necessary amendments in the memorandums of understanding signed for steel, aluminium and other projects in the state. The district collectors will be told to ensure that the decision is implemented properly.  The Govt. has also asked for report about the opportunity the mother industry will create for ancillary and downstream industries. A new draft industrial policy is being worked out for micro, small & medium enterprises.

On the other hand Govt. has identified that there is a scope for about ancillary and downstream industries to come up in Kalinganagar Industrial Complex in Jajpur district and 40 in Jharsuguda industrial area.

The government is proposing to develop Kalinganagar as a major hub for steel, while Sambalpur-Jharsuguda and Dhenkanal-Angul for steel, aluminium and power. Paradip would be developed as a petro-chemical and steel hub. Balasore will become a plastic hub, while Choudwar one for auto components. Port-related industries would come up at Dhamra port, being developed jointly by L&T and Tata Steel.

Till now mega companies like, Posco India, Jindal Stainless Ltd, and Arati Steel have submitted their reports to the Industry dept. Orissa Govt. has so far signed more than 70 MoU in different industrial fields. More than 30 steel companies in the state have started their partial production.