Odisha News Today

New Delhi, Aug 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held a phone conversation with US Vice‑President JD Vance, focusing on ways to further deepen the India‑US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. The leaders reviewed cooperation across key sectors including trade, defence, critical and emerging technologies, energy security, and critical minerals. They also exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest, reaffirming their commitment to sustained high‑level engagement. During the call, Prime Minister Modi warmly congratulated Vice‑President Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, on the birth of their son, extending best wishes to the family. Also read: What Changed After Sukhbir Badal Met PM Modi After Five Years? Sharing details on social media platform X, PM Modi wrote: “Received a phone call from US Vice‑President JD Vance. We discussed ways to further deepen India‑US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership across key areas. Warmly congratulated him and the Second Lady on the birth of their son and conveyed best wishes to the entire family.” According to the Prime Minister’s Office, both leaders noted the strong momentum in bilateral ties and emphasized accelerating cooperation in strategic domains. The conversation builds on recent high‑level exchanges, including the July meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Manila. On the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meetings, Rubio and Jaishankar agreed to fast‑track defence agreements and finalize an interim bilateral trade deal, which Washington described as “almost complete.” They also reviewed developments in the Middle East and Indo‑Pacific, underscoring shared concerns and strategic alignment. The PMO highlighted that these engagements reflect the growing convergence between New Delhi and Washington on global and regional issues, while advancing cooperation in defence and technology. (IANS)

New Delhi, Aug 8: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi concluded his two-day Delhi-NCR investment outreach on Saturday, with the state government claiming investment proposals worth Rs 66,392 crore and the potential to create 54,135 jobs.The outreach included the ‘Odisha FoodPro 2026’ roadshow, 46 high-level meetings and a total of 208 industry interactions with investors and representatives from various sectors.The chief minister also held one-on-one meetings with leading investors and industry representatives and visited Haier’s manufacturing facility in Noida.Rs 64,703 Crore Investment Through 38 MoUsAccording to the state government, 38 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed during the two-day programme, involving proposed investments of Rs 64,703 crore and the potential to create 46,071 jobs.The government also received investment intent worth Rs 1,689 crore, with the potential for 8,064 jobs.Together, the MoUs and investment intents account for the overall proposed investment of Rs 66,392 crore and 54,135 potential jobs cited by the government.Focus On Manufacturing And Downstream IndustriesThe Delhi-NCR outreach focused on sectors including manufacturing, textiles and apparel, engineering, aluminium and food processing.During his visit to Haier’s manufacturing facility in Noida, Majhi interacted with senior company officials and engineers and reviewed the company’s manufacturing processes and systems.The state government said the visit provided an opportunity to understand advanced manufacturing practices and explore potential opportunities to strengthen Odisha’s manufacturing ecosystem, particularly in electronics, home appliances, supply chains and allied industries.Majhi said Odisha was working to create an industrial environment that would support business growth, generate employment and promote value addition across sectors.“Our goal is not merely to attract investment, but also to create employment, strengthen local supply chains and open new opportunities for the youth of Odisha,” Majhi said. He added that the state wanted investors to view Odisha as a long-term partner for growth.Roundtables Highlight Sector-Specific OpportunitiesMajhi also participated in roundtable discussions with representatives from key manufacturing sectors.An engineering materials manufacturing roundtable, organised with the support of the Indian Industries Association, discussed manufacturing, industrial infrastructure, ancillary development and supply chain integration in Odisha.A textile and apparel roundtable with representatives from the Noida Apparel Export Cluster focused on textile and garment manufacturing, export opportunities, skilled manpower and employment.An aluminium ancillary and downstream roundtable, organised with the support of NALCO, discussed opportunities to expand aluminium value addition, downstream manufacturing, ancillary industries and MSME participation in the state.Also Read: Odisha Attracts Rs43,437 Cr Food Processing Investment Proposals at Delhi RoadshowGovt Links Outreach To Purvodaya VisionThe state government said the two-day outreach was part of its efforts to accelerate industrial growth in Odisha in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Purvodaya’ vision and the development of eastern India.Majhi said Odisha was “fully prepared” for Purvodaya and described the commitments received from industry during the two-day programme as encouraging.“Under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of the double-engine government, we are committed to taking Odisha’s industrial growth to a new level,” Majhi said.Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain said the response from industries in the Delhi-NCR region reflected growing confidence in Odisha’s investment environment.“Our priority is to facilitate investors, strengthen sector-specific value chains and create more employment opportunities for the people of Odisha,” Swain said.He added that the government was working to convert the investment interest generated through the discussions into projects on the ground and contribute to the state’s long-term industrial growth.46 High-Level Meetings, 208 Industry InteractionsThe government said the two-day Delhi-NCR programme included the ‘Odisha FoodPro 2026’ roadshow, along with 46 high-level meetings and 208 industry interactions across key sectors.The state government described the outreach as an effort to strengthen Odisha’s growing industrialisation process and attract investment across sectors.