Bhubaneswar, Jan 6 (NationPress) The External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, landed in Bhubaneswar on Monday as part of his five-day tour of Odisha to attend the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, which is set to occur here from January 8 to 10.

Upon his arrival, he was greeted by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy CM Pravati Parida, and former Union minister and Balasore MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi at the Bhubaneswar airport on Monday evening.

Following the welcome, Jaishankar proceeded to the Eco Retreat at Konark for an overnight stay. On Tuesday morning, he plans to visit the renowned Konark Sun Temple.

In addition, Jaishankar is expected to explore the 12th-century Jagannath Temple in Puri, the heritage crafts village of Raghurajpur in Puri, the Dhauli Shanti Stupa (Peace Pagoda), and the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. He will participate in the three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas at Janata Maidan commencing January 8.

Jaishankar expressed confidence that the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas would be celebrated with great splendor. He mentioned that Chief Minister Mohan Majhi assured him that all arrangements for the three-day event are in place. He anticipates that the event will be a remarkable success, particularly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance.

The relocation of the PBD to the eastern region for the first time highlights the Centre's dedication to advancing its ‘Purvodaya’ initiative, aimed at the comprehensive development of eastern states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal.

Odisha’s abundant mineral and natural resource reserves are instrumental in furthering this mission. The state excels in various sectors, including mining, iron and steel production, marine economy, sports, skill development, and even the knowledge economy. Numerous Indian IT firms have set up operations in the state. The PBD event will serve as a platform to present what the state has to offer to the global audience.

As in previous years, the PBD festivities in Bhubaneshwar, scheduled from January 8-10, will highlight the achievements of the Indian diaspora and their contributions on the international stage. There will be exhibitions focused on Ramayana, Technology, and the Diaspora to emphasize the role of the Indian diaspora in promoting Indian culture, values, and ethos worldwide.

The Ramayana exhibition will illustrate how this epic has influenced countries in South-East Asia, where it continues to attract both locals and tourists.