Bhubaneswar, Jan 28 (Reporter) The Odisha government will soon introduce a new startup policy in consultation with all stakeholders, particularly for young entrepreneurs, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced. The new startup policy, he said, will be designed to address the aspirations of young and new entrepreneurs while promoting market development, innovation, and related support processes through collaboration and coordination between the Government of India and the Government of Odisha. Speaking at the “Utkarsh Odisha: Make in Odisha Conclave - 2025” on Tuesday, the Union Minister emphasized Odisha's growing significance in India’s startup landscape in his address titled "Odisha - A Rising Star in India’s Startup Landscape." He stated that Odisha had both the ambition and the responsibility to lead the way in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he noted, has always prioritized Odisha's development. The Union Minister expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for showcasing Odisha's opportunities, potential, and beauty on the global stage. He also highlighted the participation of small, medium, and large industrial investors in Odisha and stressed the need to create a robust startup ecosystem. He called for establishing large industries in the state to attract new investors and generate employment opportunities. The Minister further stated that the upcoming startup policy will boost investment in the state and help create jobs. He added, “The primary challenge for us is to fully harness Odisha’s potential. Out of the 1.5 lakh startups in the country, we need to introspect on how many of them are based in Odisha.” Odisha, he said, has set an ambitious target of creating 100 startups, each valued at an average of Rs.100 crore. To achieve this, the Government of India and the state government will provide the necessary resources, collaboration, and financial support to help startups coordinate with investors. He noted that Odisha is home to prestigious institutions like IIT Bhubaneswar, Ravenshaw University, and NIT Rourkela, which will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the state’s youth. Citing the success of startups like Milk Mantra, the Union Minister remarked that Odisha has the talent, ideas, and determination to succeed on both national and international platforms. He also expressed delight over the signing of several MoUs in Odisha aimed at fostering the startup ecosystem. "With its immense potential, Odisha can transform into a startup-driven economy," the Union Minister stated, urging the strengthening of the startup ecosystem. He further stressed the importance of creating strategies to leverage Odisha’s resources and called for changing the mindset of the state’s youth. “We need to encourage Odisha’s children to become employers rather than job seekers,” he said. Pradhan concluded by expressing optimism about Odisha's future under the "double engine government" and called on everyone to work together to make Odisha a global hub for innovation, enterprise, and opportunities...////...