New Delhi: Odisha’s vibrant presence at the 44th India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2025 earned top honours on Thursday as the state bagged the prestigious Best Pavilion Award at the Bharat Mandapam complex in New Delhi. The accolade marks Odisha’s fourth consecutive win at the mega trade event, reinforcing its growing profile as a hub of culture-driven enterprise and innovative economic development.
The award was presented to Odisha officials Smt. Sucharita Shadangi, Assistant Resident Commissioner, and Shri Ashwini Kumar Bhoi, Director of the Odisha Pavilion, by ITPO Managing Director Dr. Neeraj Kharwal during a colourful ceremony near the Musical Fountain at the fair venue.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi congratulated the team and hailed the victory as a proud moment for Odisha. “Our display at the India International Trade Fair stands as a strong example of the creative brilliance of Odisha. This gold medal belongs to the entire state — especially to our artisans and self-help groups, who carried the true Odia spirit to Delhi and shone through,” he said in a message.
Additional Chief Secretary Hemant Sharma also lauded the collaborative effort of all officials and urged them to carry the same spirit forward.
Designed under the theme ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat,’ the Odisha Pavilion stood out for its unique blend of heritage, innovation and development. The structure reflected ancient Odia sculptural traditions while highlighting Vision Document 36 for 36 — a blueprint for Odisha’s role in shaping a self-reliant, developed India by 2047.
The pavilion featured 26 stalls representing nine government departments and associated organizations — including Boyanika, Resham Odisha, ORMAS, Mission Shakti, TDCCOL, MSME initiatives, Odisha Tourism, OMFED and tribal crafts from SCSTRTI. From Koraput coffee and paddy crafts to silver filigree, dokra metal art, sabai and coconut fibre handicrafts, the exhibits showcased both Odisha’s traditional skills and its emerging business potential. Authentic Odia delicacies served at the food court also drew crowds, expanding the cultural appeal of the pavilion.
According to officials, the fair brought major commercial gains as well. Businesses such as Gaumaya Paints (Bargarh), Odisha State Talgur Samabaya Sangha Ltd., and Elate Crunchies (Brahmapur) concluded trade talks with government bodies and enterprises. Several major national and international delegates have also visited the pavilion to explore partnerships in manufacturing, supply and distribution.
The pavilion, inaugurated on November 14 by Deputy Chief Minister Prabhati Parida, continued to attract distinguished guests throughout the fair — including Deputy CM Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, ministers, MPs, officials from Tripura and Manipur, and representatives from global business organizations. Chief Minister Majhi also attended the Odisha State Day celebration on November 22 as the Chief Guest.
More than 2.5 lakh visitors explored the pavilion over 14 days, generating over ₹50 lakh in sales — with countless selfies taken across the visually striking installation that turned every corner into a photo hotspot, the officials said.
The Information & Public Relations Department manages Odisha’s participation at IITF. With this year’s Gold Award, Odisha has now dominated the trade fair for four consecutive years — winning Special Jury (2022), Gold (2023), Silver (2024) and once again Gold in 2025, ahead of Madhya Pradesh and Puducherry.
