Foundation Stone for Mahalakshmi Green Energy Project to be Laid in Kolhapur on September 20

Kolhapur, Maharashtra, September 19, 2026: The Bhoomi Pujan ceremony of the ‘Mahalakshmi Green Energy’ project will be held in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, on September 20, 2026. The foundation stone of the project, being established as a unit of the Cooperative Sugar Value-Added Products and Bio-Energy Multi-State Cooperative Society Ltd, will be laid by Hon’ble Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah.

Under the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi of ‘Sahakar Se Samriddhi’ and the guidance of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah, the Multi-State Cooperative Society is being established with the objective of promoting value addition and a circular economy in the cooperative sugar industry. The initiative focuses on better utilisation of by-products generated by sugar mills to create additional value and income opportunities.

Kolhapur district is widely known for its vast sugarcane fields and advanced sugarcane cultivation. However, over the past few years, cooperative sugar mills in the region have faced increasing financial pressures, which have also affected the livelihoods of farmers and their families. In this context, better utilisation of by-products of the sugar industry and production of value-added products from them is an important step towards strengthening the cooperative sugar sector.

With this objective, the Cooperative Sugar Value-Added Products and Bio-Energy Multi-State Cooperative Society Ltd has been established. The society will work towards the revival of closed or loss-making cooperative sugar mills across the country, with the initiative beginning in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district.

The society’s first project, ‘Mahalakshmi Green Energy’, is being established in Kolhapur district. The project will support the financial strengthening of the district’s Jawahar, Sharad, Rajaram, Mandlik and Halsidnath Cooperative Sugar Mills. Value-added and agricultural-use products will be manufactured from the by-products of these mills, helping reduce financial pressures on the mills and improve the economic condition of farmers.

An integrated project will be established under the initiative, comprising a 250 TPD citric acid plant, a 20 TPD compressed biogas (CBG) plant and a 200 TPD PDM plant. The project will primarily utilise sugar industry by-products such as molasses, press mud, bagasse and other suitable biomass, as well as ash from incineration boilers. Other necessary infrastructure and utility facilities will also be developed as required.

The Mahalakshmi Green Energy project will be an important initiative towards creating a model for downstream value addition in the cooperative sugar sector. It is not merely an industrial investment but also a step towards developing a scalable model for the cooperative sugar industry. In the future, this model could potentially be adopted in other cooperative sugar clusters across the country, promoting better utilisation of sugar industry by-products, development of renewable energy and production of value-added products.

Presence of Senior Dignitaries

The ceremony will be attended by Shri Eknath Shinde, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra; Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra; and Smt Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, as distinguished guests.

The programme will also be attended by Shri Murlidhar Mohol, Hon’ble Minister of State for Cooperation and Civil Aviation; Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar, Hon’ble Minister of State for Cooperation; and Shri Babasaheb Mohanrao Patil, Hon’ble Minister for Cooperation, Maharashtra, as guests of honour.

The occasion will also be graced by the presence of Shri Pankaj Kumar Bansal, Managing Director, National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), New Delhi.

The Bhoomi Pujan ceremony will be held at 11:00 AM on September 20, 2026, in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. The programme will include the lighting of the ceremonial lamp and inauguration, welcome of the guests, an address by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, screening of a short film on the circular economy in the sugar industry, and the formal launch of the Bhoomi Pujan ceremony of the project by the Union Home and Cooperation Minister.

Bhubaneswar Emerges as Major Tier-2 Real Estate Hub as Property Prices Rise 63%

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 19 (UDN): Bhubaneswar is strengthening its position as one of India’s prominent Tier-2 real estate markets, with strong growth reported across the residential, warehousing and retail segments.

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According to a CII-Knight Frank India report, residential property prices across 11 emerging cities, including Bhubaneswar, increased by 63% between 2021 and 2026. This growth was substantially higher than the 42% rise recorded across India’s eight major metropolitan markets during the same period.

The report highlighted several factors behind the growing appeal of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. These include expanding MSME ecosystems, availability of skilled manpower, growth in the services sector and the increasing presence of Global Capability Centres (GCCs).

Warehousing Activity Picks Up

Bhubaneswar has also emerged as one of the key Tier-2 cities in India’s warehousing market.

The city was among six selected Tier-2 markets that recorded significant warehousing transactions in 2025. Along with Lucknow, Jaipur, Nagpur, Indore and Coimbatore, Bhubaneswar contributed to a combined 5.3 million square feet of warehousing transactions—nearly half of the total recorded across the key Tier-2 markets.

The six cities together registered 11.2 million square feet of warehousing transactions during 2025, underlining the growing demand for logistics and industrial space outside India’s major metropolitan centres.

Retail Sector Also Expanding

Bhubaneswar is additionally contributing to the expansion of organised retail in emerging cities.

The report noted that Bhubaneswar, along with nine other emerging markets, accounted for approximately 60% of the 36 million square feet of shopping-centre stock across 24 Tier-2 cities in 2025.

The growth reflects increasing consumer demand, urbanisation and the expansion of organised retail infrastructure in cities beyond India’s traditional metropolitan hubs.

Infrastructure Key to Sustaining Growth

The CII-Knight Frank report noted that continued investment in infrastructure, connectivity, employment opportunities and urban development will be critical for sustaining the momentum in emerging real estate markets.

For Bhubaneswar, the combination of rising residential demand, expanding warehousing activity and retail development is positioning the Odisha capital as an increasingly important destination in India’s evolving Tier-2 real estate landscape.

SEMICON India 2026 Strengthens Semiconductor Ecosystem with 25 New Industry Partnerships

New Delhi, Sep 19: India’s semiconductor ecosystem received a significant boost at SEMICON India 2026, with 25 new partnerships and industry tie-ups announced across chip manufacturing, semiconductor materials, advanced packaging, power electronics, logistics, research and skill development.

The agreements reflect the growing participation of both Indian and global companies in India’s semiconductor sector and highlight the efforts to build capabilities across the entire value chain rather than focusing only on chip fabrication.

Several partnerships are aimed at increasing domestic access to specialised materials and manufacturing inputs. Tata Electronics has entered into collaborations related to high-purity gases, advanced chemicals and other materials used in semiconductor production. Other initiatives are focused on specialised engineering systems and infrastructure required for semiconductor fabrication facilities.

Advanced packaging is another area receiving attention, with industry collaborations exploring the development and local production of components required for semiconductor packaging. Strengthening these capabilities can help expand domestic value addition and create opportunities for specialised suppliers.

The new partnerships also cover power semiconductor technologies. Initiatives involving silicon carbide devices and other power-electronics solutions are targeting applications such as renewable energy, electric mobility, power transmission, industrial systems and data centres.

Logistics is also becoming an important part of the semiconductor ecosystem. Specialised supply-chain partnerships are being developed to support the transportation, warehousing and handling of sensitive semiconductor equipment and materials as manufacturing activity expands.

The event also placed emphasis on research, deep-tech startups and workforce development. Collaboration between industry, educational institutions and technology organisations is expected to support the development of specialised skills in chip design, semiconductor manufacturing, packaging and related engineering fields.

The growing international participation at SEMICON India 2026 further highlights the increasing interest in India as a semiconductor manufacturing and technology destination. Global companies are exploring opportunities to work with Indian manufacturers, suppliers, startups and research institutions.

The latest tie-ups indicate that India’s semiconductor strategy is gradually developing into a broader industrial ecosystem covering design, materials, manufacturing, packaging, logistics, power electronics, research and talent.

For Indian businesses, this expansion could create new opportunities for local manufacturing and technology services, while strengthening supply chains and supporting the growth of semiconductor-related startups and MSMEs.

With new partnerships emerging across multiple segments, SEMICON India 2026 has provided fresh momentum to India’s efforts to develop a globally connected and domestically capable semiconductor industry.

Swedish Survey Highlights India’s Growing Appeal for Global Businesses

New Delhi, Sep 19: India’s expanding economy, large domestic market and improving business environment are strengthening its appeal among international companies, with the country receiving the highest business-climate ranking among 41 markets surveyed in the 2026 Global Business Climate Survey.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal shared the findings, highlighting India’s growing position as an important destination for global businesses at a time when companies are reassessing investment strategies amid economic and geopolitical uncertainties.

The survey provides insights into how Swedish companies view business conditions across international markets. The 2026 edition covers 41 markets and examines companies’ assessment of economic conditions, business opportunities, investment prospects and operating challenges.

India’s ranking reflects the positive outlook among Swedish businesses operating in the country. Around 73 per cent of surveyed Swedish companies rated India’s current business climate as good or very good, indicating a broadly positive assessment of the market.

The country’s growth prospects and investment opportunities have also contributed to this positive sentiment. Swedish companies are increasingly exploring opportunities across sectors such as manufacturing, information technology, engineering, automotive, aerospace, business services and other technology-driven industries.

India’s large consumer base, expanding infrastructure, digital economy, skilled workforce and growing manufacturing capabilities are creating opportunities for companies looking to establish or expand their presence in the country. The development of domestic supply chains and increasing integration with global production networks are also supporting new areas of business cooperation.

For Swedish companies, India is emerging as more than a large consumer market. Its expanding industrial base and growing capabilities in technology, engineering, research and innovation are creating opportunities for long-term partnerships, investment and local production.

The survey also provides a view of the challenges that international companies encounter while operating in different markets. Regulatory requirements, administrative procedures, customs processes and other market-entry issues remain areas where businesses seek greater efficiency and predictability.

Against this backdrop, India’s strong position in the survey highlights the growing confidence of foreign businesses in the country’s economic potential and investment opportunities.

The findings also underline the strengthening economic relationship between India and Sweden. Cooperation between companies from the two countries is expanding across manufacturing, technology, clean energy, telecommunications, mobility, life sciences and sustainable infrastructure.

At a time when global companies are looking to diversify supply chains and identify markets with long-term growth potential, India’s combination of market scale, talent, manufacturing capacity and technological capabilities is creating a broader platform for international business.

The survey therefore offers a snapshot of how Swedish businesses assess markets globally while also highlighting India’s increasing role in international investment, manufacturing and business expansion.

Odisha Plans 870-Acre ‘Silicon Valley’ Near Cuttack, Gets Rs 23,600 Crore Investment Proposals

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 19 (UDN): Odisha is set to develop an 870-acre technology hub at Naraj near Cuttack, with the state government proposing to brand the project as ‘Odisha Silicon Valley’ and position it as a base for semiconductor, electronics and information technology industries.

Pic Credit: x.com/CMO_Odisha

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced the plan during Semicon India 2026 in New Delhi, where Odisha also received investment proposals worth around Rs 23,600 crore, which the government said could create approximately 6,100 jobs.

Naraj Identified as Technology Hub

The proposed technology hub will be located along the Cuttack-Bhubaneswar urban corridor, offering connectivity to major highways as well as the Paradip and Dhamra ports.

The government said the location could support semiconductor manufacturing and related activities, including logistics and supply-chain operations.

The project is part of Odisha’s broader effort to attract investments in high-technology and advanced manufacturing sectors.

Investment Proposals Worth Rs 23,600 Crore

During his visit to Semicon India, Majhi held discussions with representatives of global and domestic technology companies, industry organisations and delegations from Japan, Sweden and Taiwan.

Companies involved in discussions included Lam Research, Applied Materials, SiCSem, 3D Glass Solutions, Cyient, Linde and HORIBA India.

The state also signed a Letter of Intent with QuadQuantum for establishing a manufacturing facility for silicon carbide (SiC) substrate wafers.

According to the government, the investment proposals announced during the event have the potential to generate around 6,100 employment opportunities in Odisha.

Semiconductor Policy Gets Additional Support

Odisha has also amended its semiconductor policy to provide an additional 25% fiscal support for projects approved under the India Semiconductor Mission.

The enhanced support will cover segments including semiconductor equipment, specialised gases, raw materials and components of the semiconductor supply chain.

The move is aimed at strengthening the ecosystem around semiconductor manufacturing and attracting companies involved in both production and ancillary activities.

Odisha Pavilion Showcases Chip Initiatives

Majhi also inaugurated the Odisha Pavilion at Semicon India 2026, where the state showcased semiconductor-related projects and chip-design initiatives involving companies and educational institutions.

With the proposed Naraj hub, policy incentives and fresh investment proposals, the state government is seeking to expand Odisha’s presence in India’s growing semiconductor and electronics manufacturing ecosystem.