Bhubaneswar: In a bid to strengthen Odisha’s business and export sectors and enhance their presence in international markets, a state-level workshop titled “Leveraging Free Trade Agreements” was held in Bhubaneswar.
Addressing the workshop Tuesday, Gokulananda Mallik, Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), said that global markets offer new horizons for prosperity. He said the workshop was organised to familiarise local entrepreneurs, exporters and business owners with the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) signed by the Government of India with various countries and guide them on how to maximise the benefi ts of opportunities available in international markets.
Emphasising the need to strengthen Odisha’s export potential and increase the state’s participation in international trade, Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain said the workshop would serve as an important milestone in taking local businesses to the global stage. The programme focused on translating India’s Free Trade Agreements into tangible global market opportunities for businesses in Odisha. It aimed to equip entrepreneurs and exporters with the necessary knowledge and guidance to explore international markets, expand their reach and improve the competitiveness of their products.
Senior Economic Adviser and Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry Agrim Kaushal, MSME department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Rashmita Panda, Director of Industries Aboli Sunil Naravane, Assistant Director General of Foreign Trade Manoj Singh, senior officials from various departments, industrialists and trade experts attended the workshop.
The event was jointly organised by the MSME department, Government of Odisha, the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). The initiative is expected to help the state’s micro, small and medium enterprises better understand the benefits of Free Trade Agreements and explore opportunities to expand exports, access new markets and strengthen the state’s position in global trade.