Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik To Begin Japan Tour From Tomorrow; Focus On IT, Sports & Tourism

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will begin his weeklong tour to Japan, the third official overseas trip in his 23-year rule, on Tuesday to attract more investments to Odisha, thereby accelerate economic development and boost job creation.

He left for Delhi to board a flight to Tokyo this morning and is scheduled to return on April 11 via Bangkok.

Naveen will lead a high-level delegation, including Minister of Industries, MSME, and Energy Pratap Keshari Deb, Chief Secretary P K Jena , Principal Secretary, Industries, Hemant Sharma, Principal Secretary, E&IT, Manoj Mishra, and Managing Director, IPICOL, Bhupendar Poonia.

Beside Secretary to CM(5T) V K Pandian and Special Secretary to CM Vineel Krishna, a business delegation from Odisha, consisting of select industries in the Steel, Aluminium, Textiles, Food and Sea-Food processing, and Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia sectors, will also accompany the CM to explore opportunities for collaboration with Japanese business houses, a CMO release said.

During their visit, the CM-led delegation will conduct one-to-one meetings with potential investors, host the Odisha Business Meet Tokyo 2023, and an interactive meeting with the Odia diaspora in Japan.

With Odisha looking at strengthening ties with Japan in areas of sports and tourism promotion, the delegation is scheduled to visit Kimitsu Steel Works and the R&D centre of Nippon Steel Corporation and explore avenues of collaboration in the areas of skill development and high-tech start-ups. Possible collaboration in training and development of sports talent in Odisha will also be explored.

A round table discussion is also scheduled in Kyoto to explore opportunities for collaboration between Japan and Odisha in the tourism sector, focusing on Buddhist and Eco-Tourism related sites in the state, the release added.

During the Make in Odisha conclave 2022, Japan was a country partner and the Ambassador to Japan in India participated in the plenary session and had invited Chief Minister to visit Japan.