THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, NOVEMBER 11, 2026
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday said the historic
relationship between India and Japan, rooted in deep trust, mutual respect and
ancient civilisational ties, was entering a new phase of economic cooperation as
Odisha signed a landmark agreement with Japan’s Tottori Prefecture to
strengthen investment, technology, skill development and business partnerships.
The agreement, signed in the presence of Majhi and Tottori Governor
Shinji Hirai in Bhubaneswar, seeks to institutionalise cooperation between the
two regions and create new avenues for industrial investment, startup
collaboration, cultural exchanges and overseas employment opportunities for
Odisha’s youth.
Describing the agreement as an important milestone in extending
India-Japan relations to the sub-national level, Majhi said the partnership
would bring the business communities, educational institutions and people of
Odisha and Tottori closer. He invited Japanese investors to explore
opportunities in the state's micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector,
startups, industrial clusters and skilled workforce, assuring them of full
government support in establishing sustainable business ventures.
An 80-member high-level Japanese delegation, comprising representatives
from industries, technical institutions, banking, finance and trade, is
visiting Odisha on a three-day tour. The visit, considered one of the largest
foreign business delegations to the state, is expected to facilitate fresh
investment proposals and strengthen industrial cooperation across multiple
sectors.
Highlighting Japanese companies' growing presence in Odisha, Majhi cited
the investments and business operations of Indo Nissin, Nippon Steel, JFE
Steel, TRL Krosaki, TYK Ceramics, Yokohama Rubber, IHI Corporation and Toray
Industries Inc as evidence of international confidence in the state's
industrial ecosystem.
Hirai expressed his commitment to building a lasting partnership through
economic cooperation, cultural exchanges and closer people-to-people
engagement. Describing Odisha as a great and beautiful state, he said the
agreement marked the beginning of a new era of partnership between the two
regions.
He also identified technology, healthcare, academics and tourism as
promising areas of collaboration, expressing confidence that the partnership
would create fresh opportunities for mutual growth.
Odisha already has a significant Japanese industrial footprint. Indo
Nissin operates a manufacturing facility at Khordha, while TRL Krosaki, backed
by Japan's Krosaki Harima Corporation, has an established refractory
manufacturing operation at Belpahar. TYK Ceramics is also expanding its
business interests in the state.
Several major investment proposals further underline the growing economic
engagement. JFE Steel has entered into a 50:50 joint venture with JSW Steel for
the expansion of its integrated steel facility at Sambalpur, involving an
investment of around Rs 32,000 crore. Similarly, IHI Corporation and India's
ACME Group have signed an agreement for three green-energy projects in Odisha
involving a proposed investment of Rs 67,000 crore.
Nippon Steel is also part of the ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel partnership
behind the proposed 12-million-tonne-per-annum integrated steel plant in
Kendrapada district, entailing an investment of over Rs 1 trillion.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Industries Department Hemant Sharma
said the Tottori agreement would expand cooperation beyond large
capital-intensive projects to include startups, small businesses, technical
institutions and skilled workers. Visiting Japanese representatives are
exploring opportunities in water management, urban infrastructure, artificial
intelligence-based construction management, precision manufacturing,
agriculture, healthcare, aquaculture and waste management, he added.
Two additional memorandums of understanding were exchanged. Startup
Odisha and Tottori Prefecture signed an MoU to facilitate startup exchanges,
mentoring, investor connections and technology partnerships. Another agreement
involving Odisha's World Skill Center, Tottori Prefecture and Japanese
organisation Nihon Edutech will focus on skill development, human resource
training and overseas employment opportunities.
Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain, MSME Minister Gokulananda
Mallik, Japan's Consul-General in Kolkata Ishikawa Yoshihisa, Chief Secretary
Anu Garg, senior officials, industrialists and academicians attended the event.
