Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and deputy chief ministers KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida called on External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Saturday and sought their cooperation to promote tourism in the state.
After paying floral tributes to the memorials of Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at ShantiVan, the trio met Jaishankar at his residence and discussed issues relating to the state’s interest.
Majhi requested the EAM to open a consulate of UAE in Odisha as a large number of people from the state are working in the gulf country. Such a facility will improve trading activities with UAE apart from helping to resolve various issues faced by the Odia people working there, he said.
The CM said the External Affairs ministry can play a catalyst role to market the Buddhist circuits of the state abroad especially in countries where a large number of people are followers of Buddhism.
He requested Jaishankar to help establish a maritime centre and an international tourist centre in Odisha. The Centre will send a technical team to the state soon to study the feasibility of setting up a maritime centre.
Jaishankar assured that MEA will work closely with the Odisha government in promoting tourism, establishing international linkages and accessing a global workplace.