07-Jun-2026

Bhubaneswar (Bureau): Odisha and Japans Tottori Prefecture have taken a significant step towards strengthening bilateral relations, with a proposed Friendship Agreement expected to create new opportunities for cooperation in trade, tourism, education, skill development, MSMEs, and people-to-people exchanges.
The proposed agreement was discussed during a virtual meeting held on Friday between senior officials and Chief Secretaries of the Odisha Government and the Tottori Prefecture Government. The discussions focused on establishing long-term institutional partnerships and expanding collaboration across several sectors of mutual interest.
During the meeting, representatives of the Tottori Government presented the draft Friendship Agreement, which aims to promote cooperation in economic development, tourism, cultural exchange, student and youth exchange programmes, human resource development, and the promotion of local industries and products.
Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg and Tottori Prefecture Chief Secretary Endo Toshiki exchanged greetings on behalf of their respective governments and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ties between the two regions.
The Tottori delegation included officials from the Tourism and International Exchange Bureau, Tottori Development Office, Home Affairs and International Trade Division, Commerce and Logistics Department, international relations coordinators, and representatives from the Indian Embassy in Japan.
Senior Odisha Government officials participated in the meeting from Lok Seva Bhavan, including the Additional Chief Secretaries of the Home, Industries, and Information & Public Relations Departments; the Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Sports & Youth Services and Skill Development & Technical Education Departments; the Managing Director of IPICOL; and other senior officers.
The Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Tourism Department and the Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Department joined the meeting virtually.
Both sides also discussed proposed exchange visits aimed at accelerating cooperation under the partnership framework. A working-level delegation from Tottori Prefecture is scheduled to visit Odisha in July, while a high-level delegation led by the Governor of Tottori Prefecture is expected to visit the state in November.
The initiative follows recent diplomatic engagements between Odisha and Japan. During his visit to Odisha on May 20, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi met the Consul General of Japan in Kolkata and discussed the proposed agreement. The Consul General also held talks with Chief Secretary Anu Garg on May 21 to further advance the initiative.