Business delegation from Japan to visit Odisha next week

Bhubaneswar, Nov 5 (PTI) A high-level business delegation from Japan's Tottori Prefecture, led by its Governor Shinji Hirai, is scheduled to visit Odisha from November 10 to 12, officials said on Thursday.

    The visit will focus on expanding business partnerships, strengthening institutional cooperation and building closer connections in skill development, entrepreneurship, education, culture and tourism, they said.

    The programme will begin on November 10 with an interaction between the Tottori business delegation and Odisha's startup and business ecosystem at Startup Odisha's O-Hub. The delegation will also visit the Central Tool Room and Training Centre (CTTC), followed by a business roundtable in Bhubaneswar, they said.

    On November 11, the business delegation will visit the Indo-Nissin facility at the Khurda Food Processing Park, providing an opportunity to understand the operations of an established Japanese enterprise in Odisha.

    The visit will be followed by the official bilateral programme with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi here. A friendship agreement between the Odisha government and the Tottori Prefectural government will be signed during the meeting, an official statement said.

    The agreement is envisaged to provide an institutional framework for cooperation in areas including economic activities, exchange of personnel, youth and student exchange, tourism, culture and environmental initiatives. It is expected to create a structured platform for sustained engagement between the two regions.

    Speaking about the proposed visit of the Japan delegation, Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain said Odisha and Japan have a growing partnership built on mutual trust and shared opportunities. The visit of the Governor of Tottori Prefecture will provide an important platform to deepen this relationship, he said.

    "Odisha has significant potential in manufacturing, food processing, technology and skill development, and we look forward to building meaningful partnerships that connect businesses, institutions and people," Swain said.

    The objective is to translate these engagements into long-term cooperation and opportunities for the people of both regions, he said.

    Hemant Sharma, additional chief secretary, Industries Department, said the presence of Japanese companies in Odisha demonstrates the potential for mutually beneficial partnerships.

    "Through the business roundtable, industrial visits and proposed institutional agreements, we aim to identify practical areas of cooperation and strengthen the foundation for future business and institutional engagement," Sharma said.

    The delegation is also scheduled to visit the World Skill Centre in Bhubaneswar and Konark Sun Temple during their stay in the state.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)