Bhubaneswar: Odisha government has asked the Centre to set up a consulate of United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the state.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and deputy chief ministers KV Singhdeo and Pravati Parida, who are on a tour to New Delhi, took up the matter during a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday.
“The professionals and skilled workers from Odisha go to Dubai in connection with jobs every year. A good number of Odia workers are already engaged in different professions in the desert country. The opening of a consulate will facilitate the travel between UAE and Odisha. Besides, it will help improve the trade with UAE,” they said.
The chief minister also informed Jaishankar about exploitation and detention of eight Odia workers in UAE and sought his intervention for their early return to Odisha.
The leaders from Odisha also discussed opening of golf courses in prominent Buddhist centres to attract overseas tourists, establishment of a marine trade centre and international tourism centre in the state. The development of Buddhist pilgrim centres in the state would attract visitors from Japan and other countries, they added.
In their meeting with Union Health Minister, the CM and two deputy CMs sought opening of medical colleges in those districts which lacked the facility. They also stressed on setting up AIIMS in Sambalpur and expansion of present AIIMS in Bhubaneswar.
Earlier, the chief minister and his deputies offered floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at Atal Samadhi Sthal.