In a significant step towards deepening international cooperation, senior officials of the Odisha Government and Japan’s Tottori Prefecture held a productive virtual meeting today to discuss the proposed Friendship Agreement (Sister-State Relationship).
The high-level discussions focused on fostering long-term collaboration in key sectors, including economic partnership, tourism promotion, cultural exchange, student and youth mobility, and human resource development. Both sides expressed a strong commitment to transforming the proposed pact into a vibrant, result-oriented partnership.
Odisha’s Chief Secretary, Anu Garg, IAS, and Tottori Prefecture Chief Secretary, Endo Toshiki, exchanged warm greetings on behalf of their respective governments and led the delegations. Officials from Tottori’s Bureau of Tourism and International Exchange, Tottori Development Office, Home and International Trade Division, Commerce & Logistics Department, and the Indian Embassy in Japan also participated.
From the Odisha side, senior officers, including the Additional Chief Secretary of Home, Industries, Information & Public Relations; Commissioners-cum-Secretaries of Sports & Youth Services, Skill Development & Technical Education, Tourism, and MSME departments, joined the meeting, along with senior officials from the Lok Seva Bhawan.
A major highlight of the meeting was the planned reciprocal visits. A working-level delegation from Tottori is scheduled to visit Odisha in July 2026, followed by a high-level delegation led by the Governor of Tottori Prefecture in November 2026.
Officials expressed confidence that the Friendship Agreement will open new avenues for MSME collaboration, promotion of local products, skill development, tourism marketing, and people-to-people connections between the two regions.
The process gained momentum in May when the Consul General of Japan in Kolkata visited Odisha, met Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and held detailed discussions with the Chief Secretary on May 20 and 21.
