Bhubaneswar: Singapore’s High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong, expressed delight over Odisha’s traditional cuisine during his visit to the state capital on Wednesday, sharing a vibrant picture of an Odia thali on X that featured fish curry, fresh prawns, banana chips, and other local delicacies.
“Fish curry, fresh prawns, banana chips… Odia cuisine is amazing What is your favourite item in an Odia thali?” Wong posted, highlighting the rich flavours of the state’s culinary heritage.
The visit combined cultural appreciation with high-level diplomatic and economic engagement.
Earlier in the evening, Wong met Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at Lok Seva Bhawan for detailed discussions on strengthening bilateral ties and accelerating investment projects between Singapore and Odisha. Chief Minister Majhi assured full support to Singaporean investors, emphasising the state’s investor-friendly policies, including its efficient single-window clearance system and swift decision-making on proposals. He underscored Odisha’s robust ecosystem and noted that Singapore’s strengths in urban planning, clean energy, port management, and technology align perfectly with the state’s developmental priorities.
Majhi recalled the visit of Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to Odisha in January 2025, which resulted in the signing of eight key MoUs across five major state departments. He stressed the importance of fast-tracking the implementation of these agreements and proposed establishing a structured engagement mechanism to ensure tangible outcomes from Singapore’s investments and partnerships.
The Chief Minister invited business delegations from Singapore to explore opportunities in green energy, urban development, skill development, and emerging areas such as fintech and insurtech. He highlighted proactive initiatives like the Black Swan Summit aimed at building capacity among Odisha’s youth and expressed hope for deeper collaboration with Singapore in these sectors.
Wong congratulated the Odisha government on completing two successful years in office and reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to supporting the state’s growth trajectory, while realising the visions of ‘Samruddha Odisha 2036’ and ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.
The high-level meeting was attended by senior officials including Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Hemant Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) Vishal Dev, and other bureaucrats. The Singapore delegation included Consul-General in Mumbai Cheong Ming Foong and other senior High Commission officials.
