Orissa has launched an investment program called Go-Swift. Within eight months, some 300 investment proposals have been submitted. The proposals belong to a variety of sectors ranging from food processing, seafood, aluminium downstream, apparel, cement, tourism and others.

Go-Swift expects a cumulative investment commitment of some Rs 18,208 crores with an employment potential of over 29,000 people. This is first-of-its-kind initiative by any state government in the country. Due to the significant ease of application and the expeditious approval process, there has been a considerable increase in the number of investors wanting to set up their business in the state.

Kitex Garments for instance will set up an apparel manufacturing unit in Orissa. The project will create employment opportunities for over 5000 people, mostly women. Kitex is an exporter of cotton garments, especially infant wear, to the US and Europe. The company has two segments – garments and fabrics. In fiscal ’16-’17 the garment segment contributed 84 per cent to sales and fabrics 16 per cent.

Kitex, based in Cochin, is in the process of upgrading its current facilities so as to expand capacity. It is a vertical set-up with knitting and processing of fabrics while finished garments are done in-house. The facility covers an area of 1,80,768 sq. ft.