Bhubaneswar, Jan 28: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said Wednesday that Odish can be a State of Startup-based economy and urged the youth to get involved in the startup sector.

The Union Minister stated this at the Startup Odisha session programme of the Utkarsha Odisha Conclave. Pradhan advised the State government to create a new ecosyste of new entrepreneurs and new investors.

Highlighting the importance of Utkarsh Odisha, Union Minister Pradhan said, "Utkarsha Odisha is just not a programme rather is pride and glory of Purvodaya." "We Odia people will have to work every day to make Purvodaya mission a grand success," advised Pradhan.

The Union Minister said the people of Odisha have two targets- 2036 and 2047. The people of the current generation have the opportunity to witness two centenary celebrations- one for the 100th year of Odisha's formation and another for the 100th year of Independence.

"At the Utkarsha Odisha Conclave, MoUs have been signed for investments of Rs 5 lakh crore. Many MoUs have also been signed for Startups. All these are very encouraging for us," said Pradhan.

Pradhan said the primary challenge for Odisha is to find ways to keep all growth prospects within the State's boundary. These are the government's commitment and action plan. When the youth study well in nurturing cities or small towns and work towards building their destiny and society, new possibilities can be created. If the studies in the universities go towards research, a creative ecosystem can be created, contended Pradhan.