Puducherry/Bhubaneswar, September 2: As part of an inter-State media visit, a delegation of media representatives from Odisha on Wednesday met Puducherry the Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan and discussed the development priorities of Puducherry and Odisha with a focus on tourism, culture, heritage, spirituality, coastal trade and other areas of mutual interest.
During the interaction, the Lieutenant Governor said Puducherry is known primarily for tourism, which continues to play an important role in the Union Territory’s economy. Its picturesque beaches, French architectural heritage and rich Indian cultural legacy offer considerable scope for promoting heritage and cultural tourism.
He also highlighted the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville as important centres of spiritual tourism.
Speaking about Odisha, Kailashnathan said the State is steadily emerging as an important economic force, with its long coastline, abundant mineral resources and modern infrastructure, including major ports, providing significant opportunities for economic growth.
He expressed confidence that Odisha’s large pool of young talent would contribute significantly to the State’s economic and overall development in the coming years, while also playing an important role in the larger national endeavour to build a developed India.
The Lieutenant Governor also praised Odisha’s rich art, culture and heritage. Recalling his years in the Indian Administrative Service, he said he had the opportunity to work with several Odia colleagues and, through them, he became familiar with Odia cuisine. He fondly recalled having tasted Pakhala, a traditional Odia delicacy.
He expressed hope that the visit of the Odisha media delegation would further strengthen the cultural and people-to-people ties between Odisha and Puducherry.
The inter-state media visit has been organised by PIB, Bhubaneswar, to provide journalists with an opportunity to gain first-hand insights into the impact and implementation of major development initiatives undertaken by the Government of India.
