Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday met World Bank President Ajay Banga at Lokaseva Bhavan to discuss strengthening cooperation in key development sectors and advancing the State’s long-term growth and reform agenda.
The high-level meeting was attended by senior State Government officials, including Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Development Commissioner D K Singh, and representatives of the World Bank.
Discussions centred on accelerating inclusive and sustainable development, skilling youth for private-sector employment, enhancing infrastructure, improving social sector outcomes, and promoting resilient, technology-driven growth. Both sides also deliberated on the importance of collaborative approaches to address global and regional economic challenges such as urbanisation, infrastructure creation and sustainable resource management.
The Chief Minister highlighted Odisha’s flagship initiatives and reform measures aimed at boosting growth and employment, particularly for youth and women. He emphasised increased investments in infrastructure, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), agriculture and allied sectors, and tourism. Majhi noted that Odisha has undertaken significant reforms in acts and rules to create a business-friendly environment, which has helped attract substantial investments.
As per figures published by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) in December 2025, Odisha has secured investment proposals worth ₹2.5 lakh crore, ranking second in the country after Andhra Pradesh, the Chief Minister informed.
World Bank President Ajay Banga lauded Odisha’s development trajectory and reform-oriented governance. He particularly appreciated the State’s focus on skill development to generate private-sector employment for its youth. Banga said the upcoming World Bank Group–India strategic plan would build on successful models such as the Central Tool Room and Training Centre (CTTC) in Bhubaneswar, contributing to India’s $4 billion national initiative to upgrade Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
Reaffirming the World Bank’s commitment to Odisha, Banga assured continued support through technical assistance, policy advisory services and financial cooperation. He also stressed the need to strengthen institutional capacity and foster public-private partnerships to sustain growth.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister shared the “Odisha Vision” document with the World Bank President. Both sides agreed to explore new areas of cooperation aligned with the State’s development priorities and the World Bank’s strategic objectives.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deepen collaboration in line with “Odisha Vision 2036 and 2047: Viksit Odisha for Viksit Bharat” and the World Bank’s broader strategic framework.
