Odisha and Japan’s Tottori prefecture have signed a friendship agreement and two memoranda of understanding covering industrial cooperation, startup exchanges, skills training, employment, tourism, culture and youth engagement. The agreements were signed on Wednesday at the State Convention Centre in Lok Seva Bhawan in the presence of around 80 Japanese delegates from industry, technical institutions, banks and trade bodies.
Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Tottori governor Shinji Hirai signed the friendship agreement, which is intended to deepen institutional and economic ties between Odisha and the Japanese prefecture. The agreement includes cooperation in personnel and youth exchanges, tourism, culture and environment, along with stronger links between small and medium enterprises and educational institutions.
Majhi said the partnership would bring the people, businesses and institutions of Odisha and Tottori closer. He sought greater Japanese participation in Odisha’s MSME, startup and industrial ecosystem, with the stated objectives of encouraging business collaborations, creating jobs, supporting student exchanges and expanding tourism and cultural connections.
The first MoU, signed between Startup Odisha and Tottori’s industry authorities, will focus on business matchmaking, startup exchanges, accelerator programmes, mentoring and investor linkages. It will also explore technology partnerships and opportunities for participating businesses to access new markets. The arrangement provides an institutional channel for startups and companies in the two regions to identify potential commercial and technology collaborations.
The second MoU involves Bhubaneswar’s World Skill Center, Tottori prefecture and Nihon Edutech. It is designed to train Odisha youths for employment opportunities in Japan, with vocational programmes tailored to the requirements of businesses in Tottori. The areas specifically identified in the agreement include manufacturing and nursing care, alongside Japanese-language training.
Industries, skill development and technical education minister Sampad Chandra Swain said the collaboration would connect industrial cooperation with skill development and create “global employment pathways” for Odisha’s youths. The arrangement places the World Skill Center within a wider cross-border training framework involving a foreign regional government and an education and training partner.
MSME minister Gokulananda Mallik said Odisha’s MSMEs and startups could explore technology partnerships, joint product development, manufacturing linkages and market access with businesses in Tottori. The state government also highlighted the presence of Japanese companies including Indo Nissin, Nippon Steel, JFE Steel, Krosaki, TYK, Yokohama, IHI and Toray in Odisha.
Hirai said Tottori was committed to building a long-term partnership with Odisha through greater economic cooperation, cultural exchanges and engagement between businesses and people. The friendship agreement and the two MoUs establish the areas of cooperation, while the specific training, business and exchange activities will be developed through the participating institutions and authorities.