Odisha raises stakes with a bold pharma thrust

Odisha is preparing to host the Odisha Pharma Summit 2025, a landmark event that could redefine the state's industrial trajectory.

- CHARUDUTTA PANIGRAHI

Positioned as a gateway for pharmaceuticals and MedTech, the conclave is more than just a showcase - itis a statement of intent. With ambitious targets of 2.5 lakh jobs, large-scale investments, and a roadmap to integrate Odisha into India’s pharmaceutical growth story, the state is stepping onto the national stage with confidence.India already contributes nearly 20 per cent of global generic drug exports, with a domestic industry valued at over $50 billion. Odisha’s entry into this sector is both strategic and symbolic, aligning with the Prime Minister’s Purvodaya vision of industrial resurgence in eastern India. The question, however, is whether this summit will deliver tangible outcomes or risk becoming another high-profile event with limited impact.

Odisha’s ambitions are not without precedent. Other states have successfully leveraged regional strengths to attract investment:

Telangana transformed Hyderabad into India’s pharma capital by building dedicated pharma parks and ensuring regulatory ease.

Gujarat invested heavily in logistics and testing infrastructure, making Ahmedabad a trusted hub for generics.

Maharashtra positioned Pune as a biotech and MedTech cluster, supported by strong academic-industry linkages.

Tamil Nadu promoted Coimbatore as a textile and engineering hub, showing how regional branding can drive investor confidence.

Odisha now seeks to emulate these successes by tailoring its investment narrative to the strengths of its own regions.