Sunil Gupta Elected Chairman of CII Odisha State Council, G Suresha Named Vice Chairman

Bhubaneswar: Sunil Gupta, Chief Executive Officer of Vedanta Ltd Jharsuguda, has been elected as the Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Odisha State Council for 2025-26, while G Suresha, Executive Director of Odisha Asset at AM/NS India, has been appointed Vice Chairman for the same term. The announcement was made at the CII Odisha State Annual Day 2025, held in Bhubaneswar.

Sunil Gupta, who oversees Vedanta’s aluminium operations across Jharsuguda and Lanjigarh, as well as its mining business, brings nearly three decades of experience in the industry. Under his leadership, Vedanta Aluminium has strengthened its position as India’s largest aluminium producer. His vision includes expanding production, improving raw material availability, harnessing technology for efficiency, and reducing the company’s carbon footprint in line with Vedanta’s net-zero goals by 2050.

G Suresha, in his role at AM/NS India, oversees key industrial assets, including beneficiation plants, pellet plants, and mechanized ship-loading systems. His leadership has fostered a culture of safety, collaboration, and operational excellence, aligning with AM/NS India’s Vision 2030.

Coinciding with its annual meeting, CII Odisha hosted a session titled “Viksit Odisha @2036: Towards Setting the Agenda for Nation Building.”

CII Eastern Region Chairman Suvendra Behera highlighted Odisha’s competitiveness in energy pricing and investment incentives. He noted that Odisha offers a 30% subsidy for investors, with no upper limit, making it a highly attractive destination for industrial growth. He also pointed out the state’s initiative to provide land with boundary walls to support MSMEs and young entrepreneurs.

Outgoing CII Odisha Chairman Dr. Pradipta Mohanty emphasized the state’s rapid economic growth, stating, “Odisha has been growing at an average rate of 11.5-12% per annum, with the recent GSDP estimate at 7.5%. Our aspiration is to become a $1 trillion economy, with agriculture, manufacturing, and services playing a crucial role.” He noted that Odisha’s agriculture sector has outperformed the national average, indicating strong potential for further expansion.

Dhamra Port CEO Devendra Thakar stressed the importance of developing a state-specific logistics model to support industrial expansion. He called for greater collaboration between the state and central ministries to enhance infrastructure. He also emphasized the need for an inclusive industrial ecosystem, where MSMEs, women entrepreneurs, and tribal businesses can thrive.

A major highlight of the event was the CII Industry Carnival Awards, which recognized outstanding companies for their contributions to Odisha’s industrial and economic progress.

Following the awards, a technical discussion was held on “Easy Credit Flow and Strong Supply Chains: The Backbone of Industrial Growth.” Essar Minmet MD & CEO Sashi Sekhar Mohanty moderated the session, featuring industry leaders from Hindalco, Punjab National Bank, and Enterprise Systems Solution Pvt Ltd. The discussion focused on enhancing credit accessibility, strengthening supply chains, and adopting technology to improve financing efficiency and industrial operations.

In his closing remarks, newly elected CII Odisha Chairman Sunil Gupta emphasized the council’s commitment to driving investment, fostering innovation, and supporting sustainable industrial growth in Odisha. With progressive policy reforms and a strong focus on ease of doing business, Odisha is well-positioned to emerge as a key player in India’s economic future.