The Odisha Government has set an ambitious target of creating employment opportunities for four lakh youth by setting up 1.5 lakh small industries by 2018-19, officials said on May 30.

Reviewing the performance of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) department, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed it to take necessary steps to meet the target by 2018-19.

The state government has facilitated employment opportunities for 1.75 lakh youth by setting up more than 50,000 small industries in 2015-16, said an official.

MSME Minister Jogendra Behera said the department would set up 36,000 MSMEs in 2016-17.

The minister said incubation centres would come up in each district while assistance would be provided to the entrepreneurs through Biju Atma Nijukti Yojana.

Besides, the meeting also discussed to expedite the process for setting up other food parks and Imported Wood Based Cluster at Paradip.

The food park being set up at Rayagada would start functioning by December this year, said Behera.

The proposed wood based cluster is expected to provide alternative to wood working industries, besides meeting the wood requirement of people without disturbing the natural forests.

Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (IDCO) will provide 100 acres of land to set up the project while wood would be imported by Paradip port authorities.

The revised draft report of entrepreneurship development policy has already been prepared and it is awaiting approval of the finance department, said an official.

Source: The Times of India