Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Mahji, who is currently on a tour of Singapore to explore business opportunities for the state, has met Gan Kim Yong, Deputy Prime Minister and minister of trade and commerce, Singapore, and senior minister of state, foreign affairs of Singapore, Sim Ann.

He invited Gan Kim Yong and Sim Ann to Odisha for the Utkarsh Odisha: Make in Odisha Conclave 2025, the state’s flagship global investors summit. He has requested Singapore to participate as a country of focus during the conclave. It will be held in Bhubaneswar on January 28 and 29, 2025.

The delegation led by Majhi met with Singaporean government counterparts and explored collaborations in the petrochemicals, chemicals, infrastructure, and logistics sectors.

During his discussion with Gan Kim Yong, both leaders expressed their intent to boost ties in trade, culture, and strategy between Odisha and Singapore. They focused on heritage, tourism, and people-to-people partnerships.

Majhi was keen on Odisha to adopt Singapore’s green and smart city solutions. It was decided to make joint efforts in green energy, technology, and industries. The Singapore minister recognised the role of Odia professionals in enriching Singapore’s diversity.

They also visited the Green Shipping Corridor and chemicals and petrochemicals complex between Odisha and Singapore.

Odisha, strategically located on India’s eastern seaboard, is rapidly emerging as a premier investment destination in the Bay of Bengal region, especially in petrochemicals. The developments at Paradip and other port-based hubs are key drivers for this growth.

Industry minister Sampad Chandra Swain said: “Odisha’s focus on industrial growth is complemented by our commitment to skill development. We are dedicated to expanding this partnership, enhancing training programmes, and ensuring our youth are equipped with the skills necessary to meet the demands of a global workforce,”

Chief minister also held a one-to-one meeting with Sopnendu Mohanty, chief fintech officer, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, to discuss innovations in the fintech sector, especially from the perspective of Odisha’s growing economy.

“The next two days will be pivotal as the chief minister engages in one-on-one meetings with investors and industry associations to discuss potential collaborations,” said a release issued by the
CMO office.

The delegation visited the Surbana Jurong Petrochemicals Complex, where the
delegation saw the world-class infrastructure that
has made Surbana Jurong a global leader in petrochemical processing.