Bhubaneswar, May 5: Stefan Priesner, UN Resident Coordinator, India on Tuesday paid a courtesy call on Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo at Lok Seva Bhawan here and discussed collaboration in agriculture, tourism & renewable energy sectors, said an official release.
According to the release, the meeting was also attended by the Additional Chief Secretary, Energy, Vishal Kumar Dev and the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Department, Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav.
"The discussions focused on reinforcing collaboration between the Government of Odisha and United Nations India across key development sectors. Deputy CM Singh Deo, who also holds the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment and Energy portfolios, highlighted that India is firmly on the path towards the vision of Prime Minister's Atmanirbhar Bharat and Odisha is contributing significantly through growth in agriculture, industry, and renewable energy," it said.
He emphasised that agriculture remains the top priority of the State Government, with sustained efforts to double farmers’ income, promote climate-resilient practices, and strengthen value chains. Tourism and heritage also featured prominently in the dialogue, it stated.
"The State’s rich cultural legacy, including UNESCO World Heritage sites and potential sites like Ranipur-Jharial and Harishankar, was discussed as a focus area for sustainable tourism development. The Deputy CM underlined Odisha’s commitment to position itself as a global destination while preserving its unique tribal and cultural traditions," it stated.
Both sides explored opportunities for deeper UN support in making Odisha an intellectual hub for renewable energy, strengthening rural livelihoods, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, the release added.
"Stefan appreciated Odisha’s progress in agriculture and energy transition and expressed UN India’s willingness to partner in technology transfer, capacity building, and inclusive development initiatives. The meeting focused on shared resolve to strengthen cooperation and work together to ensure that Odisha’s growth story becomes a model of sustainable and self-reliant development," it further stated.
