136 business leaders and stakeholders discuss higher-value manufacturing, exports, technology and the implications of India’s changing trade relationships for Odisha

 

(From left to right), Sandipan Ray, Founder-Director, SMBConnect; JK Rath, Director, Mechem pvt. ltd. & Vice president, Industry UCCIL; Rajen Padhi, Commercial Director, Bone Business House pvt. ltd.; Kamal Sahoo, Head-Odisha Chapter, FIEO

 

Bhubaneswar, September 9, 2026: The implications of India’s Free Trade Agreements for Odisha’s manufacturing and services sectors were among the key issues discussed at Global RISE 2026 – Bhubaneswar Edition, held at Lemon Tree Premier on September 9. The event brought together 136 business leaders and stakeholders from Odisha’s MSME and industry ecosystem. Discussions centred on mining, metals, infrastructure and IT, including higher-value exports, export readiness, technology and AI adoption, and the role of infrastructure in accessing overseas markets.

 

Organised by SMBConnect, the Bhubaneswar edition was the third stop in Global RISE 2026, The Next Phase of India’s Growth, a 15-city business series focused on FTAs, exports, technology, manufacturing, finance and market access. Following Ahmedabad and Pune, the series will continue across 12 more Indian cities through December 2026.

 

Speaking at the event, Sandipan Ray, Founder & Director, SMBConnect, said:

“When you look at Odisha, the strengths are already there. Mining, metals, infrastructure and a growing IT sector. The UK FTA is now in force, and the EU agreement is moving towards ratification. For Odisha, that can mean better access for higher-value metal products and new possibilities for IT and services as well. But the bigger question is, can our businesses use that access to move up the value chain and compete globally? An FTA opens the door. Businesses still have to walk through it. That was our conversation in Bhubaneswar, and it is one we will continue as Global RISE moves to the next 12 cities.”

 

From Mines to Markets

Odisha’s industrial base formed a central part of the day’s discussions. The state’s mineral resources support a substantial metals and manufacturing ecosystem, while ports, rail connectivity and industrial infrastructure play an important role in moving goods to domestic and export markets. Bhubaneswar’s growing IT and services sector added a second dimension to the discussion around international trade.

 

The inaugural keynote, “Odisha's Industrial Rise: Empowering MSMEs for Global Manufacturing & Export Leadership,” was delivered by Dr. Sanjeev Mahapatra, Director, Anand Industrial Gases Pvt. Ltd. & Terra Block Machinery Pvt. Ltd.; Honorary Secretary, Association of Industrial Entrepreneurs, Bhubaneswar; and Honorary Secretary, Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industry Limited.

 

The manufacturing discussion continued with the panel “From Mines to Markets: Enabling Odisha's Manufacturing & Industrial MSMEs to Compete Globally.” Moderated by Dr. Dindayal Swain, Professor, Author & Life Coach, the panel featured Kaushal Poddar, Managing Director, Orissa Plasto Pipes / Aadi Poly Extrusion & Moulding; Tapas Das, Managing Director, SK Engineers India Pvt. Ltd.; and Surya Prakash Ankarboina, Director, Spatech Engineering Pvt. Ltd. and Secretary, Seafarers Association of Odisha. The discussion examined what Odisha’s MSMEs need to move further up the value chain, participate in larger supply networks and improve their preparedness for domestic and overseas markets.

 

Putting FTAs in the context of Odisha’s Economy

The implications of India’s trade agreements were discussed directly during the leadership conversation “Unlocking Global Markets: FTAs, Ports & Export Opportunities for Odisha's MSMEs.” Moderated by Sandipan Ray, the session featured J.K. Rath, Director, Mechem Private Limited & Vice President - Industry, UCCIL; Rajen Padhi, Commercial Director, B One Business House Pvt. Ltd.; and Kamal Sahoo, Head - Odisha Chapter, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO).

 

The conversation moved beyond the policy framework of FTAs to questions businesses face when assessing overseas markets: which products have export potential, where value addition can improve competitiveness, how ports and logistics affect market access, and what capabilities businesses need before entering a new market.

 

For Odisha’s manufacturing sector, the discussion considered the scope for moving from raw materials towards finished and higher-value products. Bhubaneswar’s IT and services economy added another aspect, with India’s evolving trade relationships creating relevance across services as well as goods.

 

A key distinction was drawn between market access and market readiness. While an FTA can change the conditions under which a business accesses an overseas market, companies still need competitive products, quality standards, compliance, pricing, logistics and an understanding of the markets they intend to enter.

 

Technology, AI and Smart Manufacturing

Technology and its role in MSME competitiveness formed another strand of the programme.

Gautam Chakraborty, AGM - Product Excellence, Tally Solutions Private Limited, led the session “Building Future-Ready Businesses with Technology.” Kunal Koli, Manager, Interakt by Jio Haptik, followed with “Build Your AI Business Team in Minutes,” examining practical applications of AI within business functions.

The afternoon fireside chat, “The Intelligent Enterprise: How Odisha's MSMEs Can Leverage AI, Digital Infrastructure & Smart Manufacturing for Global Growth,” examined the subject from an industrial and enterprise perspective. Moderated by Rajen Padhi, Commercial Director, B One Business House Pvt. Ltd., the discussion featured Pritam Pany, Partner, Artha Dhaara Corporate Advisory LLP, and Bhagaban Biswal, Managing Director, AECPL. The sessions considered how technology, AI and smarter processes can support business operations, decision-making and competitiveness as MSMEs grow.

 

Energy and Sustainability

Energy was also part of the programme through the session “Powering SMBs Growth with Tata Rooftop Solar.” The session featured Gopal Krishna Dash, Managing Director, Parklands Solar Private Limited, and Ashok Kumar Mallick, Business Development Manager, Tata Power Solar Rooftop, bringing energy and sustainability into the broader discussion around the operating requirements of growing businesses.

 

Industry and Institutional Participation

The Bhubaneswar edition also featured Ms. Nitisha Mann, IES, Joint Director, MSME-DFO, Cuttack, as Guest of Honor. Beyond the formal sessions, business owners interacted with manufacturers, exporters, industry representatives, associations, technology and business solution providers and other stakeholders from the MSME ecosystem.

 

The programme concluded with The Global RISE Awards 2026, recognising businesses and business leaders from the enterprise ecosystem, followed by networking.

 

Global RISE moves to 12 more cities

Bhubaneswar marked the third edition of Global RISE 2026, following Ahmedabad and Pune.

The series will continue across 12 more Indian cities, with the September leg moving to Patna on September 11, Coimbatore on September 23 and Hyderabad on September 25, before continuing across other business centres through December 2026. While the industries and priorities vary by city, each edition examines how developments in trade, exports, technology, manufacturing, finance and market access relate to the business economy of that market.

 

In Bhubaneswar, this meant examining India’s evolving trade relationships through Odisha’s strengths in mining, metals and infrastructure, alongside Bhubaneswar’s growing IT sector.

Event Highlights

Highlights from the Global RISE 2026 Bhubaneswar Edition, including photographs, speaker moments and key conversations from the event, are available on SMBConnect’s official social media channels.

View the event highlights: link

 

About Global RISE 2026

Global RISE 2026 - The Next Phase of India’s Growth is a 15-city business series by SMBConnect focused on connecting Indian businesses with opportunities and stakeholders across global trade, Free Trade Agreements, technology, finance, exports and market access.

More information: Global RISE 2026

 

About SMBConnect

SMBConnect is a 13-year-old business community and ecosystem platform focused on helping small and medium businesses connect, learn and grow through communities, business conferences, industry engagement and access to relevant knowledge, networks and opportunities.

More information: SMBConnect / The RISE

 

Media Contact:
Ranjeeta Rastogi
Communication Specialist
ranjeeta.rastogi@redefine.in
9650-302-564