@ Vikash Sharma | Sr Journalist
New Delhi. Odisha Pavilion, which was the centre of attraction from day one, maintained its silver streak by regaining the covetous gold medal as “Excellence in Display” in the category of State Pavilion. Director of Information and Public Relations Dept Saroj Kumar Samal received the award on behalf of Odisha.
Conceptualized on the state’s ancient maritime trade culture, the Pavilion, with 24 stalls, including famous handloom outlets and government departments, promoted the rich cultural heritage, handicrafts and handlooms of Odisha. The focus was to ensure a strong representation of tribal groups, especially the work of women artisans, in line with the Mission Shakti initiative. On the other hand, the maritime boat at the centre of the arena perfectly complemented all 24 stalls.
IITF-2023, which began on November 14 on the “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” theme, successfully concluded this Monday. In this crowd-pulling fair, 28 states and 8 union territories participated along with corporations from India and overseas countries like Afghanistan, Vietnam, Tunisia, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Iran, Bangladesh, Oman, Egypt, Nepal, Thailand, and UAE, exhibited their products and services in diverse fields.
After receiving the prestigious Award of Excellence – gold medal in the presence of Pavillion Director Sri Suryaranjan Mohanty and Additional Director Sri Santosh Das, and other officials of the Dept., Sri Saroj Kumar Samal, Director of I & PR Department, Government of Odisha, said, “Winning the award in a row is a testament to how seamlessly the state’s trade promotion policies align with state’s industrial assets, which are driven by our cultural legacies in agriculture and handicrafts. Our pavilion assertively bolstered the Mission Shakti initiative to emphasise women’s empowerment, showcasing the state’s commitment to gender equality and the central role of women in driving economic growth. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the IITF administration and thousands of visitors for recognising and appreciating our efforts.”
This year, the Odisha Pavilion was inaugurated by Shri Ashok Chandra Panda, Honourable Minister of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Public Enterprises and Science & Technology, Government of Odisha, in the august presence of Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh (IAS, Principal Secretary, Information & Public Relations Department, Government of Odisha) and Shri Ravi Kant (IPS, Resident Commissioner, Government of Odisha) and other dignitaries and officials.
