Odisha targets economic growth through tourism and rice sector reforms

The state of Odisha is implementing strategic initiatives to expand its tourism and agricultural sectors. At the 7th Odisha Travel Bazaar, Chief Secretary Anu Garg announced 181 new tourism projects involving 14,000 hotel rooms and an investment exceeding Rs 11,500 crore. The state aims to position itself as one of Asia’s top five eco-cultural tourism destinations by diversifying investments across all districts, moving beyond traditional hubs like Puri and Bhubaneswar.

Simultaneously, the state is transitioning toward a value-driven, farmer-centric rice economy. During the Odisha Healthier Rice Business Summit 2026, Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo emphasized the importance of connecting farmers and Farmer Producer Organisations with research institutions and markets to promote nutritious and fortified rice. Business commitments at the summit included approximately 1,000 metric tonnes of nutritious rice valued at Rs 6 crore.