THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, JANUARY 29, 2026

In a significant step towards aligning economic growth with environmental stewardship, the Odisha State SDG Cell of the Planning and Convergence Department on Thursday inaugurated a two-day workshop titled “Leveraging Blue and Green Economy for a Resilient Future” in Bhubaneswar. The high-level deliberations, being held from January 29 to 30 at a city hotel here, aim to integrate blue and green economy frameworks to strengthen climate resilience, foster inclusive growth and advance the state’s long-term development vision of Viksit Odisha @2036.

The workshop has brought together a diverse and influential group of stakeholders, including senior policymakers, experts from leading national institutions, academia, UN agencies, civil society organisations, private sector representatives and community leaders. The convergence reflects Odisha’s intent to build a collaborative roadmap where sustainability, innovation and economic opportunity reinforce one another.

Delivering the keynote address during the inaugural session, Odisha’s Development Commissioner Deoranjan Kumar Singh underscored the critical role of environmental sustainability in shaping future-ready economies. He highlighted how green economy principles can unlock new growth avenues while safeguarding natural resources.

Complementing this perspective, Dr. Ashish Chaturvedi, Head of the Environment, Energy and Resilience pillar at UNDP India, New Delhi, spoke on India’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the transformative potential of blue and green economy frameworks in achieving them.

Structured around six technical sessions with participation from 21 eminent speakers, the workshop is examining key dimensions of sustainable development, climate resilience and livelihood security. Experts from institutions such as NITI Aayog, TISS, ICAR–IIWM, IIT Bhubaneswar, Berhampur University, MPEDA and UNDP India, along with community-based organisations, are sharing policy insights, research findings and best practices relevant to India and coastal states like Odisha.

The first day of the workshop focused extensively on the green economy, with in-depth discussions on green jobs, environmental financing, water security and responsible consumption and production. These deliberations are expected to strengthen Odisha’s SDG implementation framework by aligning policy priorities with innovation and community-led action.

In the opening technical session, Dr. Neelam Patel, Senior Advisor (Agriculture), NITI Aayog, and Ashok Singha, Managing Director, ASCERT Network Advisors, Odisha, examined sustainable blue and green economic growth from an Indian perspective, highlighting opportunities for coastal states amid challenges related to climate change and energy security.

The second session centred on sustainable climate-smart agriculture and inclusive approaches, with insights from Nitin Bassi of CEEW, Dr. Bibhu Prasad Nayak of TISS Hyderabad and Member of the 6th State Finance Commission, Odisha, and Dr. Debal Deb, noted practitioner of indigenous seed conservation from Rayagada.

The third technical session explored multiple pillars of the green economy, focusing on water security, emerging technologies and green value chains. Dr. A. Sarangi, Director, ICAR–IIWM, Bhubaneswar, Amit Kumar of Skyvan Aviation and Dr. M.K. Ram Mohan, Director, MMEDA, Kochi, highlighted futuristic perspectives on technology adoption and responsible production and consumption patterns.

The inaugural day witnessed the participation of several senior government officials, including S.K. Vashisth, Principal Secretary, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department, Rajesh Pravakar Patil, Secretary, Cooperation Department, and Mansi Nimbhal, Additional Secretary-cum-Managing Director, OLIC, along with officers from the Planning and Convergence Department. An audio-visual film on the Sustainable Development Goals was screened during the event, and a booklet titled “Aspirational, Sustainable Snippets of Success from the Heartland – Volume 2” was released, showcasing grassroots success stories.

The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Alka Jena, Director, SDG Cell, Planning and Convergence Department.