OASME celebrates 40 glorious years of empowering entrepreneurs across Odisha

Bhubaneswar(By Abhishek Mohanty): The Odisha Assembly of Small and Medium Enterprises (OASME) marked a major milestone by celebrating its 40th Foundation Day and Annual State Level Convention 2025 at the Hotel Crystal Crown Convention, Bhubaneswar.

The event commemorated four decades of OASME’s unwavering commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and promoting the growth of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector across Odisha. 

The landmark event saw an enthusiastic participation of over 500 MSME entrepreneurs from across the state, highlighting the strength and vibrancy of Odisha’s business community.

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The convention was inaugurated by Sampad Chandra Swain, Minister of State, Industries, Skill Development & Technical Education, Government of Odisha; Gokula Nanda Mallik, Minister of State, Fisheries & Animal Resources Development, MSME, Government of Odisha; Hemant Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries & MSME Department, Government of Odisha; D.Prasanth Kumar Reddy, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, MSME Department, Government of Odisha & MD IDCO & P.K.Gupta, IEDS, Joint Director & HOO, MSME-DFO, Ministry of MSME, Government of India.

The celebration began with the hoisting of the OASME flag, followed by a grand inaugural ceremony that marked the arrival of the chief guest and dignitaries. 

In his welcome address, Gauri Sankar Dash, Chairman, OASME, extended heartfelt gratitude to members, partners, and government bodies for their continuous support.
The Annual Report presentation was delivered by Satwik Swain, Secretary General (Honorary), OASME, highlighting key achievements, initiatives, and future plans. The dignitaries addressed the gathering, sharing their perspectives on the role of MSMEs in driving regional and national growth.

Addressing the gathering, Gokula Nanda Mallik remarked: “Odisha is a land full of opportunities — rich in both natural and human resources.
With schemes like Lakhyapati Didi, the government is empowering women and promoting rural entrepreneurship.
MSME development in these regions is key to inclusive growth. Our youth must be skilled and guided to follow the principle of Profession with Perfection.
I appeal to OASME to set up training camps in all 314 blocks of Odisha, and urge corporates to come forward, support MSMEs, and prioritize procurement from them.
Together, we can build a stronger, self-reliant Odisha.” 

The event also featured the presentation of the OASME Award 2025, honouring successful entrepreneurs and government officers for their significant contributions to the MSME sector. Two key seminars were held during the convention.

The first, “Importance of CFC for Value Addition in Food Processing MSME Cluster”, was attended by Aboli Sunil Naravane, Director of Industries, Government of India.
Discussions focused on modern food processing technologies, food safety, packaging innovation, market linkages, and government schemes to support MSMEs in food processing. The second seminar, “MSMEs for Nation’s Defence: Readiness, Opportunities & Integration”, was jointly organised by MSME-DFO and OASME.
The chief guest, Maya Sherman, Senior Innovation Officer, Embassy of Israel (New Delhi), joined industry leaders in exploring the growing role of MSMEs in India’s defence sector. The Foundation Day concluded with the Annual General Body Meeting followed by a vibrant cultural programme, celebrating the unity and entrepreneurial spirit of Odisha's MSME community.