CM Naveen for strengthening trade, cultural ties between Odisha & ASEAN

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today pressed for strengthening trade and cultural ties between Odisha and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“Odisha has been blessed with natural resources and major ports on the Bay of Bengal. We are the gateway to the ASEAN region. As we move to a modern world, connected more and more through technology, I hope that we can renew the strong ties between our two regions. I hope that in the coming years we can further strengthen our trade ties and not just that, I also hope that we can increase our cultural ties and come up with more cultural exchange programmes,” said the Chief Minister while interacting with the ASEAN Heads of Missions in the run-up to Make in Odisha Conclave-2022, scheduled to be held in Bhubaneswar from November 30 to December 4.

The meeting was held at the Convention Centre of Lok Seva Bhawan here. The Chief Minister also invited the ambassadors to attend the Make in Odisha Conclave-2022 along with their trade delegations.

The Chief Minister said the Make in Odisha Conclave-2022 is a great platform to further strengthen the business ties between the two regions and the state government will facilitate Government to Business (G2B) and Business to Business (B2B) meetings with local companies and the trade delegations of ASEAN nations.

He also requested the ASEAN delegation to set up desks at the International Pavilion of Make in Odisha Conclave-2022.

Pattarat Hongtong, Ambassador to Royal Thai Embassy, who led the team, expressed her sincere gratitude to the Chief Minister and Odisha government for the hospitality. Highlighting the historical trade and cultural ties between Odisha and ASEAN nations spanning over 2,500 years, she said there is a huge potential for trade and cultural relations with Odisha.

She said they have firm belief in Odisha’s economic potential and they will highlight this in their respective countries. There is huge scope for exchanges in food processing, services, hospitality and medical tourism, she added.

A delegation of ASEAN Heads of Missions in India led by Pattarat Hongtong concluded its three-day visit to Odisha today. The delegation had arrived in Odisha on October 26.

The Chief Minister had invited the delegation of ASEAN Heads of Missions in New Delhi to visit Odisha during a meeting of ambassadors and representatives of various corporate houses held in the national capital in August this year.

The Chief Minister presented mementoes to the guests. Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra, Development Commissioner PK Jena, Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian and other senior officials were present during the meeting.

Industry department Principal Secretary Hemant Sharma welcomed the guests. The summit also saw the participation of all major business associations and industries of Odisha.

The aim of the summit was to discuss various ways to further strengthen the trade as well as cultural ties between Odisha and the South East Asia.