Shakti Samman 2026: Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Indian Women Network (IWN) Odisha organized the fourth CII IWN ‘Shakti Samman 2026’ in Bhubaneswar on Friday. The event celebrated the achievements of women leaders and reaffirmed the commitment towards women-centric development and inclusive growth. Thirteen Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth Rs. 913 crore were signed at the event, which is expected to generate around 4000 employment opportunities in the state.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha, Smt. Anu Garg (IAS) said that women entrepreneurs are facing many challenges to break the traditional and social norms to achieve success. She termed them as a real source of inspiration and said that the Odisha Government’s Vision Document 2036 and 2047 has adopted women-centric development as a major pillar and aims to transform the state into a $1 trillion economy. She further said that since almost half of the state’s population is women, women’s participation in entrepreneurship, employment and economic activities is an economic necessity. On the impact of ‘Subhadra Yojana’, she informed that the beneficiaries are increasingly investing this financial assistance in creative activities like children’s education, entrepreneurship and income-generating activities.
Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Industries and Information and Public Relations, Shri Hemant Sharma (IAS) has highlighted the rapid growth of women entrepreneurship in Odisha. He said that although entrepreneurship has been a challenging journey, women entrepreneurs have consistently achieved high success rates. Odisha now offers vast opportunities in a diverse range of industries such as plastics, food processing, FMCG and home appliances, apart from the traditional sectors. Highlighting the government’s efforts to promote entrepreneurship, he informed that District Investment Promotion Agencies (DIPAs) have been set up in every district and more than 3,000 applications have been processed, creating huge opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
Welcoming the guests and participants, the President of CII Odisha State Council, Shri Anil Kumar Singh said that this event is not only about celebrating outstanding achievements but also about recognizing leadership that is bringing about positive change. He said that entrepreneurship requires immense determination, self-confidence and hard work. He expressed happiness at the recognition of exceptional women achievers and formalizing significant investment commitments through MoUs with women entrepreneurs.
The highlight of the evening was the felicitation of 36 women achievers from different parts of Odisha under the CII IWN Shakti Samman 2026. The awards are given for their outstanding contributions in the fields of healthcare, environment and sustainability, startups, education, media and entertainment, sports, cottage and small industries, social development and entrepreneurship. The award winners are honored for their outstanding leadership, resilience, innovation, and lasting contributions to society.
Speaking on the occasion, Chitra Arumugam, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Science and Technology Department, Government of Odisha, highlighted the journey of progress of women entrepreneurs and their valuable contribution to the sustainable and equitable economic development of the state. She also spoke about how women are playing a vital role in shaping the economy and society of the state.
A highlight of the evening was the awarding of CII IWN Shakti Samman-2026 to 36 women from across Odisha. Their outstanding contributions in various fields like healthcare, environment and sustainable development, startups, education, media and entertainment, sports, cottage and small industries, social development and entrepreneurship were recognized through this award. The award honoured their excellent leadership, resilience, innovation and lasting contribution to society.
The programme was concluded by the vote of thanks by the President of CII IWN Odisha, Ms. Zubina Ali. She expressed her gratitude to the Government of Odisha, industry leaders, partners, jury members and participants for making the fourth edition of ‘Shakti Samman’ a successful celebration of women’s leadership and achievement. Over the past few years, CII IWN Shakti Samman Odisha has emerged as a prestigious platform to recognize women who have overcome obstacles, inspired the society and created lasting social and economic impact. Through this major initiative, CII Indian Women’s Network Odisha is taking forward its vision of building a more inclusive, equitable and empowered future where women act as catalysts for sustainable development, innovation and transformation.
