Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday virtually inaugurated nine industrial projects and laid the foundation stone of 23 others, officials said.The Rs 6,992.94-crore projects, spread over 14 districts, are likely to provide employment to 24,508 people, they said.“Our industrial portfolio is expanding with the inclusion of new-age and employment-intensive sectors such as green energy equipment manufacturing, textiles and tourism,” Patnaik said.“The continuous improvement in the Ease of Doing Business ranking of the state, coupled with a business-friendly environment, world-class industrial infrastructure, and highly sought-after skill development initiatives, have been instrumental in attracting investments to Odisha,” he added.