The US consul general in Kolkata, Beth A Payne, said US investors are keen to invest in Orissa. She also praised the initiatives taken by the Orissa government for socio-economic development of the people in the state.
Payne, who concluded her two-day visit to the state on Friday, met Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik, steel & mines minister, Pradip Amat, and chief secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy after she acquainted herself about the industrialisation taking place in Orissa.
The US diplomat discussed with Patnaik about various development programmes, including industrialisation, in the state.
It was Payne’s first visit to any state in the eastern region after she took over the charge on July 31, this year.
During her meeting with the chief secretary, Payne was reportedly told that the state government is making an effort to make Orissa one of the five top states in the country. She was told that 26 steel companies have started their projects in the state. Apart from this, Orissa is also making steady progress in aluminium, power and irrigation sectors. The visiting dignitaries appraised the effort to bring the poverty in the state down to 7.3%.