Bhubaneswar: Odisha Government is actively advancing discussions with the Government of Japan to establish a formal Friendship Agreement between Odisha and the Tottori Prefecture. This partnership aims to enhance bilateral cooperation across major sectors, including industrial development, skill development, tourism, culture, youth exchange, and people-to-people relations.
The development follows a meeting between the Chief Minister of Odisha and the Consul General of Japan in Kolkata on May 20, 2026. Subsequently, an in-person follow-up meeting was held in Bhubaneswar on May 21, 2026, between the Chief Secretary of Odisha, Anu Garg, IAS, and the Consul General of Japan in Kolkata, Ishikawa Yoshihisa.
Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Industries, and Information and Public Relations, Shri Hemant Sharma, participated actively in the talks.
The central focus of the dialogue was the draft framework of the proposed Friendship Agreement. The agreement envisions collaborative efforts in economic and industrial activities, tourism promotion, youth and student exchanges, personnel exchanges, cultural initiatives, and environmental protection.
During the meeting ACS Shri Sharma highlighted the expanding industrial ecosystem in Odisha and showcased emerging opportunities in advanced manufacturing, skill development, tourism, and cultural exchanges. Both delegations discussed potential joint initiatives in Japanese language training, student and faculty exchanges, sports collaboration, and industry linkages. Special emphasis was also placed on promoting tourism with a specific focus on the Buddhist circuit.
To finalize the specific modalities, operational frameworks, and timelines of this partnership, a coordination meeting will be organized. This upcoming meeting will involve representatives from the Government of Odisha, the Embassy of India in Tokyo, and the Tottori Prefectural Government. The proposed Odisha–Tottori partnership represents a significant step forward in deepening Odisha’s long-term economic, educational, and cultural engagement with Japan.