Viksit Odisha / Odisha, Japan strengthen Startup ties as Tottori delegation visits Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, Nov 10: Odisha and Japan took a significant step towards strengthening bilateral startup and business cooperation with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the visit of a delegation from Japan's Tottori Prefecture to Startup Odisha at O-Hub in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, officials said.

The visit was aimed at enhancing collaboration between the startup ecosystems of Odisha and Japan while exploring opportunities for international business partnerships, institutional cooperation and cross-border linkages.

Delegation Visit

The Japanese delegation comprised Toru Sasaki, Director General, Department of Commerce, Industry and Labour, Tottori Prefectural Government; Yoshioka, Director, San-in Godo Bank Co. Ltd.; and Kazuhiko Ikeda, President, Tottori Prefectural Industrial Promotion Organization, along with representatives from Japanese companies.

A key highlight of the engagement was the signing of an MoU between Sustainability Leaders Odisha Pvt. Ltd., an Odisha-based startup, and ONESTRUCTION Inc, a business organisation from Tottori Prefecture. The agreement marks a concrete step towards business collaboration between enterprises from Odisha and Japan.

The partnership follows initial discussions held during the Tottori delegation's visit to Odisha on July 30, 2026, and subsequent follow-up engagements, reflecting efforts to convert exploratory interactions into tangible business opportunities.

Focus on Entrepreneurship

Addressing the gathering, Gokulananda Mallik, Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Fisheries & Animal Resources Development, underscored the importance of fostering entrepreneurship and expanding business opportunities through international cooperation.

Rashmita Panda, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, MSME Department, and Chairperson, Startup Odisha, highlighted the State Government's commitment to strengthening the startup ecosystem, promoting innovation and facilitating global partnerships.

The programme commenced with a welcome address by Smruti Ranjan Pradhan, Chief Executive Officer, Startup Odisha, followed by remarks from members of the Japanese delegation.

B2B Engagements

The visiting delegates toured the Startup Showcase Stall and interacted with emerging ventures from Odisha. A video presentation highlighted the State's startup ecosystem, support mechanisms and initiatives aimed at nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship.
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Odisha-based startups showcased their products, technologies and solutions, opening avenues for collaboration with Japanese enterprises. The event also featured Business-to-Business (B2B) interactions between startups and companies from Tottori Prefecture across sectors including agriculture, construction, artificial intelligence, manufacturing, sustainability and healthcare.

The engagement is expected to strengthen Odisha's international startup network, facilitate long-term institutional partnerships and create greater global opportunities for emerging enterprises from the State.