Paperman Media ( Bhubaneswar )- Mr. Stefan Priesner, UN Resident Coordinator, India had a courtesy call with Hon'ble Deputy Chief Minister Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo at Lok Seva Bhawan today. The meeting was also attended by the Additional Chief Secretary, Energy, Shri Vishal Kumar Dev and the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Department, Shri Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav.
The discussions focused on reinforcing collaboration between the Government of Odisha and United Nations India across key development sectors. Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister highlighted that India is firmly on the path towards the vision of Hon'ble Prime Minister's Atmanirbhar Bharat and Odisha is contributing significantly through growth in agriculture, industry, and renewable energy. Dy CM Shri Singhdeo emphasized 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. 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 Chief Minister underlined Odisha’s commitment to positioning itself as a global destination while preserving its unique tribal and cultural traditions.
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. Mr. Stefan Priesner 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 concluded with a shared resolve to strengthen cooperation and work together to ensure that Odisha’s growth story becomes a model of sustainable and self-reliant development.
