The Odisha government announced that nine countries have given their consent to participate in the Make-in-Odisha (MIO) conclave, scheduled to start on November 30.

Odisha would project itself as one of the investment destinations of choice for domestic and global investors during the third edition of the state’s biennial investors’ meet that would conclude on December 4.

The state, which had received over 120 investment intents valued at Rs 2 lakh crore in its first edition of the MIO in 2016 and later Rs 4 lakh crore in the second edition of the MIO in 2018, is hopeful to get a good response this time from the business summit.

Odisha has already organised roadshows in Dubai and chief minister Naveen Patnaik has met top honchos of the business world in Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, and Delhi and invited them to come and be a part of Odisha’s growth story as it’s one of the leading states in receiving the investment.

Principal secretary of the industries department, Hemant Sharma, said three countries Japan, Germany and Norway have come on board as country partners for the investment summit.

Japan was the only country partner in the 2018 summit and now another two countries have joined and will play as partners for the investment summit.

According to the programme, the chief minister will inaugurate the state’s flagship programme MIO on November 30.

On December 1, Naveen will attend the plenary session. He will also personally interact with the business leaders during the summit.

The MIO will be held at the Janata Maidan which will be converted into a modern stateof-the-art venue. At the venue, Odisha’s rich culture, heritage and Odisha as an emerging state will be displayed.

The summit, which is expected to draw more than 25,000 footfalls, will be open to the public from 11am to 9.30pm.

Principal secretary of the information and public relations department, Sanjay Kumar Singh, said Odisha would showcase its strength, and business opportunities during the summit and would invite the business tycoons to explore the huge possibilities that Odisha offers.