Ex-Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy elected as president of Odisha Steel Producers’ Association
By Suryanarayan Panda
Bhubaneswar, April 16: The Odisha Steel Producers’ Association (OSPA), the newly formed industry body representing leading steel companies in the state, has unanimously elected former chief secretary of the state, Asit Tripathy, as its president.
An administrator with decades of experience in governance, policy, and industrial development, Tripathy currently serves as advisor at Jindal Steel. His election as the president of OSPA is widely seen as a significant step towards strengthening industry-government collaboration and advancing Odisha’s position as a leading steel hub in India.
Welcoming his appointment, members of OSPA expressed confidence in his leadership, noting that his deep understanding of public policy, stakeholder engagement, and infrastructure development will be instrumental in guiding the association.
Speaking on the occasion, Tripathy said: “Odisha is at the forefront of India’s steel growth story. OSPA will be a strong, constructive voice for the steel industry, aligned with Odisha’s long-term growth ambitions. We will work closely with the Government and stakeholders to create an enabling ecosystem for responsible and inclusive industrial growth in the state”.
The association has also selected S.K. Popli as secretary general. Popli, former officer of the Indian Forest Service, has held several key leadership positions in government, contributing significantly to natural resource management, regulatory frameworks, and sustainable development initiatives.
Representatives of 15 leading steelmakers in Odisha — including Jindal Steel, JSW Steel, Jindal Stainless, AMNS, Rungta Mines, Narbheram Steel, MGM Steel, Aarti Steel and Essar Steel — were present in the meeting, signalling industry-wide alignment amid rapid capacity expansion and inclusive industry led development.
Member companies agreed to nominate their representatives for the Apex Committee and sub-committees within the next few days. It was also decided that companies would submit their key operational and policy issues for collective consideration in the interest of the State.
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Photograph: Newly elected Odisha Steel Producers’ Association Asit Tripathy (left) at meeting with the members of the association in Bhubaneswar on Friday.
