Odisha and Japan Sign MoU to Strengthen Startup Ties

Odisha-based Sustainability Leaders and Japan's ONESTRUCTION sign an MoU to promote startup collaboration, business partnerships and cross-border opportunities across multiple sectors.

Odisha and Japan have strengthened their business and startup ties through a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Odisha-based startup Sustainability Leaders Odisha Pvt. Ltd. and Japanese business organisation ONESTRUCTION Inc. The agreement aims to promote cross-border business partnerships, encourage innovation and create opportunities for companies from both regions to explore international markets.

The MoU was signed on November 10, 2026, during a visit by a delegation from Japan's Tottori Prefecture to Startup Odisha at O-Hub in Bhubaneswar. The delegation included Toru Sasaki, Director General of the Department of Commerce, Industry and Labour of the Tottori Prefectural Government; Yoshioka, Director of San-in Godo Bank; and Kazuhiko Ikeda, President of the Tottori Prefectural Industrial Promotion Organization, along with representatives of Japanese companies.

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The agreement follows preliminary discussions held during an earlier visit by the Tottori delegation to Odisha on July 30, 2026, and subsequent engagements between the organisations. It is intended to translate these initial discussions into practical commercial partnerships and facilitate collaboration between emerging enterprises in Odisha and Japan.

The partnership will explore opportunities across sectors including agriculture, construction, artificial intelligence (AI), manufacturing, sustainability and healthcare. Business-to-business (B2B) interactions were organised during the visit to connect Odisha-based startups with Japanese companies. Discussions focused on business networking, technology exchange, potential joint initiatives and access to new markets.

Odisha's Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development, Gokulananda Mallik, highlighted the importance of international partnerships in promoting entrepreneurship and expanding business opportunities. Rashmita Panda, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the MSME Department and Chairperson of Startup Odisha, emphasised the state government's commitment to developing an innovation-driven startup ecosystem and strengthening international business linkages.

As part of the programme, the Japanese delegation visited the Startup Showcase Stall at O-Hub, where it explored products, technologies and business solutions developed by Odisha-based startups. The participating enterprises presented their ventures and highlighted opportunities for collaboration with Japanese businesses. A presentation on Startup Odisha also outlined the state's institutional support mechanisms and initiatives for nurturing emerging companies.

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The engagement forms part of a broader effort to deepen economic and institutional cooperation between Odisha and Tottori Prefecture. A high-level delegation led by Tottori Governor Shinji Hirai is visiting Odisha from November 10 to 12, 2026. The wider programme includes discussions on industrial development, trade, investment, skill development, tourism and cultural exchanges. A separate friendship and cooperation agreement between the Odisha Government and Tottori Prefecture is scheduled to establish a framework for sustained regional engagement.