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Odisha chief secretary pitches growth agenda in Silicon Valley
Chief secretary Anu Garg said the state aims to increase its contribution to 5 percent of India’s gross domestic product by 2047
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Staff Reporter - Mon, 01, Jun 2026
- 01:05 EDT
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Anu Garg outlined Odisha’s development agenda and the state government’s goal of increasing Odisha’s contribution to India’s economy. / Courtesy photo
Anu Garg, chief secretary of Odisha, visited the San Francisco Bay Area this week, where she met members of the Indian American community, business leaders and diaspora organizations to discuss Odisha’s economic development priorities and investment opportunities.
A reception hosted by Dr. Srikar Reddy, consul general of India in San Francisco, brought together representatives from the Indo-American community and business sector during Garg’s official visit to Silicon Valley.
Welcoming Garg and her delegation, Reddy thanked the Indian American community for its role in strengthening cultural, economic and people-to-people ties between India and the United States. He also acknowledged the Bay Area’s Indian diaspora for supporting investment, innovation and engagement between the two countries.
In her remarks, Garg outlined Odisha’s development agenda and the state government’s goal of increasing Odisha’s contribution to India’s economy.
“Odisha is poised for a transformational decade,” said Garg.
“We are actively inviting investments in infrastructure, technology, manufacturing, and green energy. The Indian-American community here in the Bay Area represents exactly the kind of talent, capital, and global networks that will help us realize this vision.”
Garg said the state aims to increase its contribution to 5 percent of India’s gross domestic product by 2047 as part of the country’s broader development vision.
She highlighted plans to expand infrastructure across Odisha, including expressways, national highways and rural road networks intended to improve connectivity between industrial areas, agricultural regions and urban centers. The state is also considering public-private partnership models for road construction and invited nonresident Indian investors to explore opportunities in the sector.
On tourism, Garg discussed Odisha’s Tourism Vision 2047 initiative, which includes plans for integrated tourism circuits linking heritage sites, eco-tourism destinations and coastal areas. She said the state intends to develop hospitality infrastructure such as heritage hotels, eco-lodges and convention centers, while promoting adventure tourism, wellness retreats and cultural festivals.
Garg also emphasized Odisha’s mineral resources and the state’s intention to expand value-added processing and manufacturing rather than relying solely on raw mineral extraction. She said new mining clusters, processing facilities and research centers are planned, alongside measures aimed at promoting sustainable mining practices.
Addressing maritime development, Garg said Odisha plans to modernize and expand its port infrastructure, including existing ports and new deep-water facilities. She also outlined plans for a coastal economic zone and improved inland waterway connections to support trade, manufacturing and logistics.
The chief secretary further highlighted reforms related to ease of doing business, land acquisition and digital governance, which she said are helping make Odisha more attractive to domestic and international investors.
The reception concluded with discussions between Garg and members of the Bay Area’s business and academic communities. According to organizers, several attendees expressed interest in exploring investment and partnership opportunities in Odisha.
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