Bhubaneswar, Dec13: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said Odisha has emerged as the gateway of ‘Purvodaya’ development, describing the initiative of Narendra Modi government as the “growth engine” of Viksit Bharat (Developed India). Addressing the third edition of the international conference ‘Purvodaya Perspective – 2025’ via video message in Bhubaneswar, he urged collective efforts to harness opportunities and turn potential into reality.

Purvodaya Vision

Organised jointly by the Ministry of External Affairs, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and The Energy Forum (TEF), the conference focused on the strategic importance of eastern India in national development. Minister Pradhan recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi articulated the idea of Purvodaya while dedicating the Indian Oil Paradip Refinery to the nation on February 6, 2016. The Union Budget 2024 further institutionalised the Purvodaya plan, emphasising integrated development of Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Andhra Pradesh, he added.

Odisha as Gateway To Purvodaya

Highlighting Odisha’s role, Pradhan said the state has emerged as the “gateway to Purvodaya,” with major ports such as Paradip, Dhamra, and Gopalpur, alongside mineral-based industries. He stressed that port-led development and the blue economy are key priorities of the government. Economic corridors, he noted, are not limited to roads and ports but also encompass flows of energy, data, finance, and ideas. Eastern India, he said, is rapidly evolving into a strategic energy corridor.

Energy Security and Global Partnerships

India currently operates over 9,300 km of petroleum and product pipelines. Together with ports like Paradip, Dhamra, Haldia, and Visakhapatnam, these pipelines form a robust gateway for crude oil, LNG, and petrochemical trade. This integrated network strengthens energy security, reduces logistics costs, and attracts global investors. Pradhan emphasised that the eastern coast offers significant opportunities for energy partnerships between India and Southeast Asia.

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Sustainability and Green Growth

The Minister underlined sustainability as a major focus area. Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, the government has introduced wide-ranging policy interventions to address climate change. “Clean energy is not just an option but the only way forward,” he said. Purvodaya, he added, is about green growth as much as economic growth. Initiatives in green hydrogen, biofuels, low-carbon refining, and clean petrochemicals are being aligned with sustainable development goals.

Youth and Human Capital

Pradhan emphasised the importance of youth and human capital in shaping India’s future. Eastern states, he said, are known for their rich talent pool. Education and skill development are the two pillars to harness this potential. Institutions such as IITs, NITs, IIMs, IISERs, and NISER in the region are producing high-quality human resources contributing to nation-building. He also cited recent collaborations between the Odisha government and Singapore’s Global Financial Technology Network as examples of new opportunities for youth.

Preparing For The Future

The Minister urged the conference to deliberate on preparing youth for the future, leveraging the region’s resource-rich potential, and involving domestic industries more actively in development. He concluded by commending the Ministry of External Affairs, TEF, and CII for successfully organising the international conference and advancing the Purvodaya vision.