Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today pressed for strengthening trade and cultural ties between Odisha and Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Interacting with the ASEAN Heads of Missions in the run up to Make in Odisha-2022 conclave in Bhubaneswar from November 30 to December 4, the Chief Minister said, “Odisha has the boon of geography and has been blessed with natural resources and major ports on the Bay of Bengal. We are the gateway to the ASEAN region.”
“As we move to a modern world, connected more and more through technology, I hope that we can renew the strong ties between our two regions. I hope that in the coming years, we can further strengthen our trade ties and not just that, I also hope that we can increase our cultural ties and come up with more cultural exchange programs,” he said at a meeting with ASEAN Heads of Missions at the Convention Centre in Lok Seva Bhavan.
The Chief Minister also invited the Ambassadors to attend the Make in Odisha (MIO) 2022 conclave along with their trade delegations. The conclave offers a suitable platform to further strengthen the business ties and the state government will facilitate government to business and business to business meeting with local companies and the trade delegations of ASEAN Nations, he said. He also requested them to set up country desks in the International Pavilion at the conclave.
Speaking about the historical trade and cultural ties between Odisha and ASEAN nations spanning over 2500 years, Pattarat Hongtong, Ambassador to Royal Thai Embassy, who led the team, said there is a huge potential for trade and cultural relations with Odisha.
She said they have firm belief in Odisha’s economic potential and will highlight this in their respective countries. There is a huge scope for exchanges in food processing, services, hospitality and medical tourism.
The delegation met the chief minister on the last day of their 3-day visit to Odisha. They had accepted the invitation by the chief minister to visit the state during the Ambassadors’ Meet held in New Delhi in August.
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