Singapore: The Odisha delegation, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain, marked a significant day of engagements in Singapore, focusing on fostering collaborations in petrochemicals, chemicals, infrastructure, and logistics. The visit underscores Odisha’s commitment to enhancing its industrial landscape and skill development initiatives while positioning itself as a premier investment hub in the Bay of Bengal region.
The delegation began the day with a visit to the Surbana Jurong Petrochemicals Complex, a global benchmark in petrochemical processing. This tour provided valuable insights for Odisha as it continues to develop its Petroleum, Chemicals, and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR) at Paradip. Chief Minister Majhi expressed his admiration for the complex, stating, “Witnessing the world-class infrastructure at Jurong is truly inspiring. Odisha’s strategic location on India’s eastern seaboard and developments at Paradip position the state as a key player in the petrochemicals sector.”
A major highlight was the delegation’s government-to-government meeting with Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade & Commerce, Gan Kim Yong. During the discussions, Chief Minister Majhi emphasized Odisha’s rich maritime history and cultural heritage, exemplified by the traditional Boita Bandāna festival. He extended an invitation to Singaporean companies to explore investment opportunities in Odisha, assuring them of a supportive and seamless experience.
The Chief Minister also formally invited Gan Kim Yong to attend the Utkarsh Odisha: Make in Odisha Conclave 2025 and encouraged Singapore to participate as a partner nation. Industries Minister Swain highlighted Odisha’s dual focus on industrial growth and skill development, stating, “We are committed to enhancing our training programs and preparing our youth to meet global workforce demands.”
The delegation also met Sim Ann, Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, to discuss ongoing collaborations, including the establishment of Odisha’s World Skill Centre, a successful partnership with the Singaporean government and ITEES. The discussions expanded to include potential cooperation in urban mobility, green shipping corridors, and petrochemical complexes.
Further bolstering Odisha’s technological aspirations, Chief Minister Majhi held a one-on-one meeting with Sopnendu Mohanty, Chief Fintech Officer of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, exploring fintech innovations and their applications in Odisha’s growing economy.
The day concluded with a formal interaction between the Odisha delegation and Singaporean and Odia business leaders to discuss potential business-to-business partnerships. This outreach aligns with Odisha’s strategic efforts ahead of the Utkarsh Odisha: Make in Odisha Conclave 2025, scheduled for January.
Over the next two days, the delegation plans to deepen engagements with investors, industry associations, and the Odia diaspora in Singapore, further solidifying Odisha’s position as a premier investment destination and advancing its vision for economic transformation.
