Anil Agarwal, the chairman of the Vedanta Group, stated that the state is the most sought-after location for Indian businesses while in Bhubaneswar for the two-day "Utkarsh Odisha: Make-in-Odisha Conclave 2025," which begins today.

"Odisha is India's most popular destination. According to the chairman of the Vedanta Group, Odisha is the only place like heaven on earth

Agarwal further compared Odisha to Australia and heaped praises on the people of Odisha and the work culture in the state.

“The Jharsuguda Aluminum complex is the largest in the world. Lanjigarh is also a great complex. Today, Kalahandi district is fully developed; hundreds of companies are coming and schools, colleges and hospitals have been opened there. It feels great to see such development,” said the Vedanta Group chairman.

He further said that his firms work towards job creation and development of Odisha. “Aluminium is environment-friendly, it is ‘green aluminium’; and, Odisha has become an aluminium hub,” said Agarwal.

When Anil Agarwal Met Odisha CM Mohan Majhi:

In July last year, the Vedanta Group chairman met Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and held discussions on the development projects in Odisha. During the meeting, Agarwal reiterated Vedanta Group's unwavering commitment to the state's progress, the company said in a statement.

"My meeting with Majhi-Ji was highly productive, and we discussed our shared vision for Odisha's growth. Under his capable leadership, our longstanding partnership will continue to thrive, driving the state to greater heights," he added.

The Vedanta Group claimed that it has invested more than Rs 1 lakh crore in the state and has created over 1 lakh jobs. This is the conglomerate's largest investment anywhere in the world, it said.

History of Vedanta's Operations in Odisha:

Vedanta has been operating in Odisha for over two decades, with existing reported investments exceeding Rs 1 lakh crore. The company's presence includes the world's largest integrated aluminium smelter plant at Jharsuguda and an alumina refinery at Lanjigarh. However, the company’s past projects, such as the proposed bauxite mining in the Niyamgiri Hills, have faced significant opposition from local communities and environmental activists. 

What is 'Green Aluminium' As Said by Anil Agarwal:

Green aluminium refers to aluminium produced using renewable energy sources, reducing the carbon footprint associated with traditional production methods. Vedanta's planned aluminium plant in Odisha reportedly focuses on producing green aluminium, aligning with global trends towards sustainable manufacturing and India's commitment to reducing carbon emissions.