Bhubaneswar: Odisha and Japan’s Tottori Prefecture on Tuesday initiated discussions to deepen bilateral cooperation across sectors including investment, industrial development, skill development, tourism, culture and technology during a high-level meeting held in Bhubaneswar. The meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg, was attended by a 13-member delegation from Tottori Prefecture led by its Chief Secretary Toshiaki Endo.
Highlighting Odisha’s historical and cultural ties with Japan, Garg said the two regions shared centuries-old connections rooted in Buddhist heritage and growing economic engagement. She invited Japanese companies to explore investment opportunities in Odisha, particularly in green energy, advanced technology, research, skill development, fisheries, the blue economy and industries of all scales.
Additional Chief Secretary of Industries, Housing and Information & Public Relations, Hemant Sharma said Odisha and Tottori shared a common vision of sustainable development, innovation and inclusive growth. He showcased Odisha’s industrial ecosystem, mineral resources, port-led development, green energy initiatives, skilled workforce and investor-friendly policies, expressing confidence that collaboration with Japan would create new opportunities for global manufacturing and sustainable industrial growth.
A major focus of the meeting was a proposed Friendship Agreement between the Government of Odisha and Tottori Prefecture. The proposed partnership aims to promote cooperation in small and medium enterprises, skilled manpower exchange, employment generation, student exchange programmes, education, tourism and cultural collaboration.
Welcoming the proposal, Tottori Chief Secretary Toshiaki Endo said the partnership would further strengthen India-Japan relations while opening new avenues for cooperation between Odisha and Tottori, particularly in the field of resources and industrial development.
The two sides also explored opportunities to promote Buddhist heritage tourism through exchange of expertise and delegation visits. Discussions were held on organising cultural festivals, language learning initiatives, exhibitions and collaboration between non-governmental organisations to strengthen cultural ties.
Both sides agreed to establish regular government-level exchanges, coordination mechanisms and joint action plans, and to prepare a roadmap for implementing mutually agreed areas of cooperation.
Officials informed that the Governor of Tottori Prefecture is scheduled to visit Odisha in November to further advance the proposed partnership.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Tourism, Culture, Skill Development & Technical Education, Sports and MSME departments, along with the Managing Director of IPICOL. Members of the Japanese delegation included senior officials from the tourism, commerce, employment and welfare departments, as well as representatives of industry.
The Tottori delegation is on a three-day visit to Odisha and will visit major tourist destinations and institutions, including the World Skill Development Centre in Bhubaneswar, besides holding discussions with various departments to explore future areas of collaboration.
