Economically Poor, Rich In Resources Orissa Tenders Offer Huge Opportunities For Business

By Author: Mukesh Chandra
Total Articles: 19
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Ninth largest in terms of area and eleventh largest in terms of population, Odisha that was earlier known as Orissa is rich in natural resources, minerals and forestry but is still poor economically. However, of late there is rapid industrialization and many big commercial houses are coming over to invest in the state where they expect rich benefits. Orissa tenders; especially those originating from the upcoming industrial sectors, offer huge opportunities for the bidders.

Predominance of Free Tenders
With the aim of industrialization and for attracting industrial houses from abroad, Orissa has been following the policy of free tenders where everyone can bid and contest for winning them. Latest industrial policy of 2007 makes it clear that the state wishes to encourage foreign investors and will provide many relaxations so that they will consider investing in the state beneficial. That is why there is almost a predominance of free tenders in the tender market in the state.

Main Sources of Tenders
Main sources of Orissa tenders are as follows –
• Agriculture and allied sectors as nearly ...
... 70% of the people in the state are still dependent on the predominantly agrarian state;
• Industrial and allied sectors with many industrial houses coming up in the state with their projects;
• Forest and allied sectors as the state is very rich in forestry and forest products;
• Construction and real estate sectors with rapid growing urbanization in the state and growth of road communication;
• Telecom and Information Technology sector where the state has made rapid strides of late;
• Education sector with numerous educational institutions cropping up;
• Railways with many new railway lines coming up; and
• Irrigation sector that is one of the major requirements for agriculture.

Change in Trends
In the past most of the Orissa tenders originated in the public sector and at best from the public sector undertakings like the NALCO, MCL, NTPC, Paradip Ports, Rourkela Steel Plant, different Dam projects including Hirakud, Mandira, Rengali, Machchkumd, and Indravati projects, works, rural development, and water resources departments. Some free tenders were also generated by the Housing and Urban Development department and its subsidiary units like Housing Board, different development authorities, municipalities and notified area councils. With major influx of private organizations and rapid growth of many indigenous commercial centers, the equation has changed quite a bit and at least half of the Orissa tenders now originate from the private sectors unlike in the past.

Sector Wise Tender Sources
If one goes by the sector wise Orissa tenders sources then the result would be as follows.
• Tenders floated by iron and steel industries like Xindal, Monet, Vedanta, Aditya, Bhoosan, Visa, and others;
• Tenders floated by Aluminum industries like Nalco, Aditya Alumina, Utkal Alumina, and others;
• Tenders floated in power generation and distribution sectors by NTPC, CESU, NESCO, WESCO, SOUTCO, • VISA, and others;
• Construction tenders floated in the real estate industries by government, private organizations, and individual builders;
• Tenders for construction, improvement, and maintenance of buildings, roads, bridges, railway lines, electric lines, telecommunication lines, pipe lines, and others;
• Forest related tenders;
• Tenders in the agricultural sectors;
• Irrigation works related tenders floated by Water Resources Department;
• Tenders by local self governments like Panchayats, municipalities, Panchayat samittes, DRDAs, ITDAs and others.

There are multiple other sources but aspirants for major Orissa tenders including the free tenders could do well to grab opportunities offered by these sectors.

In fact; the opportunities are huge.