Bhubaneswar: Odisha and Japan are exploring stronger business and institutional partnerships following a visit by a delegation from Japan’s Tottori Prefecture to Startup Odisha at O-Hub in Bhubaneswar on November 10, 2026.
The visit aimed to strengthen cooperation between the startup ecosystems of Odisha and Japan and explore opportunities for international business collaboration, institutional partnerships and cross-border business linkages.
The delegation comprised Toru Sasaki, Director General, Department of Commerce, Industry and Labour, Tottori Prefectural Government; Yoshioka, Director, San-in Godo Bank Co. Ltd.; and Kazuhiko Ikeda, President, Tottori Prefectural Industrial Promotion Organization, along with representatives of Japanese companies.
A key development during the engagement was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Sustainability Leaders Odisha Pvt. Ltd., an Odisha-based startup, and ONESTRUCTION Inc., a business organisation from Tottori.
The agreement marks progress towards business collaboration between enterprises from the two regions.
The MoU follows initial discussions during the Tottori delegation’s visit to Odisha on July 30, 2026, and subsequent follow-up engagements aimed at translating the initial interactions into concrete business partnerships.
Odisha’s Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Fisheries and Animal Resources Development, Gokulananda Mallik, addressed the gathering and highlighted the importance of fostering entrepreneurship and expanding business opportunities through international cooperation.
Rashmita Panda, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the MSME Department and Chairperson of Startup Odisha, outlined the state government’s commitment to strengthening the startup ecosystem, promoting innovation and facilitating international partnerships.
The programme began with a welcome address by Startup Odisha Chief Executive Officer Smruti Ranjan Pradhan, followed by addresses from members of the Japanese delegation.
The visiting delegates also toured the Startup Showcase Stall, where they gained insights into innovative products, technologies and entrepreneurial initiatives emerging from Odisha’s startup ecosystem.
A video presentation on Startup Odisha provided an overview of the state’s initiatives, institutional support mechanisms and efforts to nurture innovation, entrepreneurship and startup growth.
Odisha-based startups presented their ventures, products and solutions to the Japanese delegation, highlighting the state’s entrepreneurial capabilities and exploring potential areas of cooperation with Japanese companies.
The programme also featured Business-to-Business interactions between Odisha-based startups and companies from Tottori Prefecture. The discussions focused on business networking, exchange of ideas, potential partnerships, market opportunities and areas of mutual interest across agriculture, construction, artificial intelligence, manufacturing, sustainability and healthcare.
The engagement is expected to strengthen international startup linkages and create opportunities for cross-border business collaboration. Startup Odisha aims to build sustained institutional engagement, facilitate business connections, and provide global exposure to emerging enterprises in the state through such initiatives.
