Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has intensified discussions with the Government of Japan for establishing a formal Friendship Agreement with Tottori Prefecture, aimed at expanding cooperation in industrial development, skill development, tourism, culture, youth exchange, and people-to-people ties.
The proposed partnership was discussed during a meeting between Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg and Consul General of Japan in Kolkata ISHIKAWA Yoshihisa in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. Additional Chief Secretary of Home, Industries and Information & Public Relations Department Hemant Sharma also attended the meeting.
The discussions followed the meeting between Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and the Japanese Consul General on May 20.
Officials deliberated on the draft framework of the proposed agreement, which envisages collaboration in key sectors including economy and industry, tourism promotion, youth and student exchange, personnel exchange, culture, and environment.
Both sides also discussed holding a coordination meeting involving the Government of Odisha, the Embassy of India in Tokyo, and the Tottori Prefectural Government to finalise modalities and timelines for the partnership.
During the discussions, the Odisha government highlighted the state’s expanding industrial ecosystem and emerging opportunities in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, skill development, tourism, and cultural exchanges.
The two sides further explored cooperation in Japanese language training, student and faculty exchange programmes, tourism promotion with a focus on the Buddhist circuit, sports collaboration, and industry linkages.
Officials said the proposed Odisha–Tottori partnership is expected to strengthen Odisha’s engagement with Japan and foster long-term cooperation across economic, educational, cultural, and industrial sectors.
