As Orissa exuded confidence that an agreement with Mittal Steel on a $7-billion steel plant could be reached by November, the world's largest steel maker said it needed to see more commitment from the central and state governments toward its project.

Mittal Steel, which has announced two identical 12 million tonne projects in Orissa as well as Jharkhand, said India should make it easier for investors to invest here.

"Our desire to be here (in India) is considerable. It will take a lot of hard work from both the government in New Delhi and the states on our project," Mittal Steel (India) CEO Sanak Mishra said, delivering a lecture at the Diamond Jubilee function of the Indian Institute of Metals in New Delhi.

Earlier in the day, Orissa Minister for Steel and Mines Padmanabha Behara said: "The MoU would be through once Mittal Steel acquires 3,000 acres of land it has sought from the state government". 

The global memorandum of understanding with Mittal Steel was likely to be signed within the next two months, he said.

Mishra, however, said the state governments should be firm on their commitment to enable the company fructify its investment in the country.

Complete coverage: The Mittal Steel-Arcelor saga

He also noted the Centre understood the company's priorities -- evident from the fact that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was heading the Infrastructure Committee.

Behara said Mittal was likely to use either the Paradip Port or the upcoming port in Gopalpur being built by the Orissa government for its steel project.

The possible sites for Mittal's Steel plant are Khallikot in Ganjam, Basudevpur in Bhadrak, Balgopalpur in Balasore and Patna in Keonjhar.

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