In Pics: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik meets Pope Francis

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today met His Holiness Pope Francis in Vatican City during his foreign tour.

He was accompanied by Odisha 5T Secretary VK Pandian during the meeting.

After the meeting, Patnaik tweeted, “Pope Francis It has been an absolute pleasure meeting His Holiness Pope Francis in Vatican City. Thanked him for the warm audience and wished him good health and a long life.”

It has been an absolute pleasure meeting His Holiness Pope Francis (@Pontifex) in Vatican City. Thanked him for the warm audience and wished him good health and a long life. pic.twitter.com/B1oA5BBbnv

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) June 22, 2022

On behalf of Odisha and her people the Odisha chief minister presented His Holiness a Pattachitra painting which depicts the Tree of Life.

Many priests and sisters from India, who were at the Vatican, were happy to see the Odisha chief minister. They wished him well.

The World Food Program (WFP) has extended an invitation to Patnaik to visit its headquarters in Rome and share the transformative initiatives of Odisha in the field of food security and disaster management.

Patnaik will meet the executive director of WFP, David Beasley and the senior leadership of WFP. He will have detailed discussions on Odisha’s partnership with WFP and future projects which will further help the state in ensuring food security in a sustainable manner.

Further, Patnaik will also meet the Odia diaspora from various parts of Europe. He will discuss the possible ways to engage with the diaspora in promoting the art and culture of Odisha and also enabling them to partner in the state’s transformational journey.

On his way back, Naveen will meet investors from the Middle East and adjoining regions in Dubai. He will extend an invitation to the potential investors to come and invest in Odisha and assure them all the support and facilitation by the state government.

He will also have one-on-one meetings with some big investors from the region. A high-level industrial delegation from Odisha will also be present during the investors meet for possible partnerships with the foreign investors.

The Chief Minister will meet the Odia Diaspora from the Middle East in Dubai and discuss with them Odisha’s transformational journey over the last two decades and invite them to partner with the state government. Patnaik is scheduled to return to Odisha on June 30.

(With agency inputs)