Odisha Launches Women Entrepreneurship Platform to Boost Women-Led Growth

Bhubaneswar: Marking a significant step towards expanding women-led enterprise and strengthening economic participation, the Odisha government on Saturday launched the Odisha chapter of the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) with support from NITI Aayog, positioning women entrepreneurs at the centre of the state’s development agenda.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched the initiative during the ‘Udyami Odisha MSME Programme’ and International MSME Day celebrations at Lok Seva Bhavan Convention Centre, describing the platform as a catalyst for creating a stronger ecosystem for women in business.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said Odisha’s growth ambitions depend on empowering women not merely as beneficiaries but as entrepreneurs and employment generators. He said the initiative seeks to create an environment where women lead enterprises, generate livelihoods and contribute directly to economic transformation.

To operationalise the initiative, the government unveiled a one-year action plan for WEP that will function as an integrated support platform connecting women entrepreneurs with financial institutions, mentorship opportunities, skill development programmes, market access and business facilitation services. The platform will bring together Mission Shakti, MSME Department, Startup Odisha, banks and industry stakeholders.

Highlighting the impact of women-centric programmes in the state, Majhi said initiatives such as Subhadra Yojana have helped expand financial inclusion and entrepreneurship among women. He noted that increasing participation of women in business activities reflects a broader shift towards economic self-reliance.

The event also witnessed announcements aimed at strengthening Odisha’s MSME ecosystem. The Chief Minister inaugurated a Rice Milling Cluster in Baleshwar developed at a cost of ₹24.18 crore to support value-added agricultural processing. He also laid the foundation stone for a Rasagola Cluster at Pahala worth ₹17.70 crore, expected to expand production capacity and create employment opportunities.

Further boosting industrial infrastructure, two Multi-Product MSME Parks were inaugurated at Barapalli in Ganjam district and Kesinga in Kalahandi district. The government also indicated plans to develop additional industrial clusters and MSME infrastructure across the state.

Majhi said Odisha’s MSME sector has witnessed steady growth through policy support, credit access and entrepreneurship promotion, adding that the sector would remain central to the state’s target of becoming a 500-billion-dollar economy by 2036.

Speaking on the occasion, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Dr Ashok Kumar Lahiri said Odisha has emerged as one of the country’s fast-growing states and stressed that sustained investment in women’s entrepreneurship would play a crucial role in long-term economic progress.

Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said the launch of the Women Entrepreneurship Platform opens a new chapter for women-led development in Odisha. Senior officials, industry representatives and women entrepreneurs from across the state participated in the programme, while district administrations joined virtually.