Bhubaneswar: French investors have evinced keen interest in putting their money in steel, energy, electronics and hotel sectors in Odisha.

A French business delegation led by ambassador of France to India, Alexandre Ziegler, met the Odisha chief minister, here on Saturday and discussed about the investment opportunities in the state. During the discussion with the business delegation, the chief minister urged them to invest in Odisha and participate in Make-in-Odisha Conclave scheduled to be held in November in Bhubaneswar.

Patnaik urged the delegates for investment in aircraft, electronics equipment, medical equipment and food processing sectors.

Patnaik told the visiting delegation Odisha has become an attractive hub for investment in the recent period.

“Odisha is rich in mines. It has been transformed into Aluminum capital in South Asia by producing 54 percent aluminum out of total aluminum production in India. Similarly, the State has become a steel hub with 25 percent steel of total production in the country,” he said. The government is aiming for development of metal and allied industries in its vision 2030, he said adding, “A policy is also being drafted soon in defence and aerospace fields”.

France Ambassador Ziegler and the members of Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI) said that continues efforts would be made to improve business relationship with an aim to achieve more and more collaborations in industrial entrepreneurship between France and Odisha in coming days.