CM Mohan Majhi launches WEP Odisha with NITI Aayog support to promote women entrepreneurship, MSME growth, startup support and financial inclusion
OdishaPlus Bureau
To promote women-led entrepreneurship in the state, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi launched the Odisha chapter of Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP).
The platform, launched with support from NITI Aayog, was inaugurated during the ‘Udyami Odisha MSME Programme’ and International MSME Day celebrations held at the Convention Centre of Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on Saturday (June 27).
Calling WEP more than just an institution, CM Majhi said it represents a movement towards women’s economic leadership in Odisha. “In a prosperous Odisha, our mothers will not only be partners in development, but will also lead it,” he said.
He added that the government’s vision is to create an Odisha where women do not only seek employment but also become job creators, moving beyond being consumers to becoming producers and entrepreneurs.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also launched the one-year action plan of the WEP Odisha chapter, which will bring together Mission Shakti, MSME, Startup Odisha, banks and industry partners to provide women entrepreneurs with access to financial support, marketing opportunities, mentorship and skill development.
Highlighting the impact of the state government’s Subhadra Yojana, CM Majhi said over one crore women have been empowered through the scheme and are moving towards financial self-reliance.
According to data from Indian Institute of Management Sambalpur, State Bank of India and an AI Voice Bot survey, the share of women-run enterprises in Odisha has increased from 25 per cent to 53 per cent. The average bank deposit of Subhadra beneficiaries has also increased by ₹6,887.
He described Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as a key engine of Odisha’s economic development and announced several infrastructure initiatives to support the sector.
A Rice Milling Cluster built at a cost of ₹24.18 crore was inaugurated in Balasore to promote rice bran oil production. Similarly, the foundation stone for a Rasagola Cluster worth ₹17.70 crore was also laid in Pahala to strengthen the traditional sweet-making industry, increasing its daily production capacity from 7,000 kg to 11,000 kg.
Two Multi-Product MSME Parks, each developed at a cost of ₹10 crore, were inaugurated at Barpally in Ganjam and Kesinga in Kalahandi. CM Majhi said an engineering cluster, printing and packaging cluster, and cashew cluster would also be launched soon.
He further informed that the government plans to establish one multi-product MSME park in every district of Odisha.
Highlighting government support for MSMEs, CM Majhi said more than 4.32 lakh MSMEs in the state have benefited from joint initiatives of the Central and state governments. Under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), ₹146 crore subsidy has been provided to 4,900 small enterprises, with women accounting for 42.5 per cent of beneficiaries.
He said collateral-free loans worth over ₹23,000 crore have been extended under the Credit Guarantee Scheme, while the government is supporting entrepreneurs through the Chief Minister’s Scheme for Reimbursement of Interest to MSMEs (CM-SRIM) scheme.
Odisha’s merchandise exports through the MSME sector reached ₹95,568 crore last year, said CM Majhi, adding that MSMEs will play a crucial role in achieving the state’s target of becoming a $500 billion economy by 2036.
Attending the event, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri praised Odisha’s economic progress, stating that the state has emerged as a new beacon of development. He highlighted that Odisha’s GSDP growth rate has surpassed the national GDP growth rate.
He also noted that the state secured the first position in NITI Aayog’s Fiscal Health Index 2026, driven by significant investments in health and infrastructure sectors. Congratulating the Chief Minister for the state’s strong economic policies, Lahiri said Odisha is witnessing rapid growth in sunrise sectors such as textiles and tourism, describing it as a “Dynamic Odisha.”
He further emphasised Odisha’s growth trajectory and said the state’s women power will be a key force in driving its future development.
Deputy Chief Minister, Pravati Parida, who also holds the portfolio of Women and Child Development and Tourism, said the launch of WEP marks the beginning of a new chapter for women entrepreneurs in Odisha.