Third official overseas trip in 23 years: Naveen Patnaik to go ahead with Japan visit

As the Budget session of the Odisha Assembly is on, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Narasingha Mishra urged the CM to go on the trip after the end of the session on April 6. According to Mishra, the CM’s presence is required as several important issues are lined up for discussion. But sources in the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) said the CM was going on the trip to draw investments to the state and thereby accelerate economic development and boost job creation.

A year away from general and Assembly elections, the BJD government has been pushing hard to draw investment to the state. In the third edition of the Make in Odisha conclave, the government claimed to have received investment proposals worth Rs 10.5 lakh crore. The government is following up with potential investors to convert those into actual investments.

The CM’s decision to visit Japan is significant as it is the Patnaik government’s country partner for its biennial business summit, Make in Odisha. It was last held in December. During the visit, Patnaik is likely to hold one-to-one meetings with some of the top potential investors in Japan. There will also be some follow-up meetings to pursue potential investment from Japan during Make in Odisha.

“Patnaik’s visit to Japan will strengthen the Odisha-Japan relationship and create more opportunities for mutual trade, commerce and people-to-people relations. Besides meeting investors, Odisha is also looking forward to strengthening its ties with Japan in areas of sports and tourism promotion,” said a senior government official, requesting anonymity.

A business delegation comprising representatives of leading industrialists in Odisha, state industries minister Pratap Keshari Deb and senior government officials, are expected to accompany the CM to Japan.

The ambassador of Japan in India, Hiroshi Suzuki, while visiting the state during the Make in Odisha conclave, emphasised strengthening economic relations between India and Japan and assured that he would do his best to help achieve the goals of Make in India and Make in Odisha in the state.

Last June, the CM embarked on a foreign trip to Italy and Dubai — his first overseas visit after 10 years. During the stay, Patnaik met Pope Francis in Vatican City and shared Odisha’s transformational journey in food security at the World Food Programme in Rome. In Dubai, he attended his first overseas investors’ meeting to draw investment to the state from West Asia and adjoining areas. He also met the Odia diaspora in both countries.

Despite having been a frequent traveller in his early life, Patnaik went on his debut foreign trip as CM to London in 2012, 12 years after assuming office. That time, he had to cut short the visit after an alleged coup attempt was made by his friend-turned-foe, the late Pyari Mohan Mohapatra.

Last month, the CM met Reliance Group chairman Mukesh Ambani in Mumbai to discuss Odisha’s potential as an investment destination.