Aditya Birla Group to invest Rs 80,000 cr in Orissa.

Chairman of Aditya Birla Group Kumar Mangalam Birla on Thursday said the group would invest about Rs 75,000 crore to Rs 80,000 crore in Orissa. "We are committed to larger and more investments in Orissa, and it is a very important investment destination for us," he said after meeting Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the State Secretariat here. The investment will be made in sectors like aluminium, cement, telecom and retail sectors over the next few years.Birla called on the Chief Minister to discuss project related-issues with him. "We apprised the Chief Minister about the progress of different projects executed by the company in the State," he told reporters, adding that the progress of different projects is satisfactory.
"The company is committed to a lot of social work like setting up ITIs and health centres at the project sites," he said, adding that company would launch its retail business in the State within next six months.

On the issue of resistance of the local people to the alumina refinery project Utkal Alumina at Raygada, Birla said steps were being taken to solve the problem. "We would abide by the R&R policy of the State Government," he said, adding that as long as there is a reasonable settlement the company would be happy.On the issue of possible investment in the port sector, Birla said he had a discussion about the Chudamani port with the State Government officials.