Bhubaneswar/ New Delhi, Aug 5: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan along with Union MoS Jayant Singh co-chaired a high-level meeting on Tuesday to discuss the establishment of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for skilling in mining, logistics, and critical minerals in Odisha.

The meeting was attended by Odisha’s Minister of State for Industries, Skill Development and Technical Education, Sampad Swain.

Co-chaired a meeting with Shri @jayantrld to discuss establishment of a proposed centre-of-excellence for skilling in mining, logistics and critical minerals in Odisha in the presence of Odisha Minister for Skill Development and Industries, Shri @SampadSwainBJP.

The mining… pic.twitter.com/XoelbHgYi4

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) August 5, 2025

Minister Pradhan emphasized Odisha’s readiness to become a global skills hub, citing the state’s proactive policies and infrastructure. “Odisha is equipped with land, power, water subsidies, capital incentives, and fast-track clearances to support investors and innovators,” he said.

Pradhan also highlighted the ongoing development of the National Centre of Excellence at NSTI, Bhubaneswar.

Pradhan also called for deeper collaboration between Odisha’s Skill Development and Technical Education Department and the Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to strengthen the skilling ecosystem across the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to arm the youth of Odisha with future-ready skills and ensure that India’s talented youth is ready to lead not just in India but globally, he added.

The proposed CoE, envisioned as the first-of-its-kind in India, aims to provide globally benchmarked skill development opportunities in the mining sector. With Odisha’s vast mineral reserves and growing industrial base, the initiative is expected to fuel economic growth and generate large-scale employment.

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