Bhubaneswar,
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday said that ‘Purrooday’ is the engine of growth for a ‘Developed India’ and called for collective efforts to unlock the full potential of Eastern India. He made these remarks while addressing the third edition of the International Conference on ‘Purrooday Vision – 2025’, held in Bhubaneswar, through a video message.
The conference was jointly organised by the Ministry of External Affairs, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and The Energy Forum (TEF).
Highlighting the vision behind the initiative, Shri Pradhan said that Purrooday reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s long-term commitment to the holistic development of Eastern India. He recalled that the Prime Minister first laid the foundation of the Purrooday vision in 2016 while dedicating the Paradip Refinery to the nation. The Union Budget 2024 further strengthened this initiative with a focused approach towards the development of Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh.
Shri Pradhan said Odisha has today emerged as the “Gateway to the East”, supported by major ports such as Paradip, Dhamra and Gopalpur, along with strong mineral-based industries. He underlined that port-led development and the Blue Economy are among the top priorities of the government.
He noted that Eastern India is rapidly evolving into a strategic energy security corridor. With over 9,300 km of petroleum and product pipelines operational across the country, and ports such as Paradip, Dhamra, Haldia and Visakhapatnam acting as major trade gateways, the region is playing a crucial role in strengthening India’s energy security and reducing logistics costs. This integrated infrastructure, he said, has also attracted global investors and opened new opportunities for energy partnerships between India’s east coast and Southeast Asia.
Emphasising sustainability, Shri Pradhan said that green growth must be an integral part of the Purrooday vision. He stated that clean energy is no longer an option but the only path forward, adding that the government is promoting green hydrogen, biofuels, low-carbon refining and clean petrochemicals as part of a sustainable development strategy.
Speaking on human capital, the Union Minister said that Eastern India has immense youth potential and can emerge as a global talent hub. Education and skills, he said, are the two key pillars for empowering the youth. The region hosts premier institutions such as IITs, NITs, IIMs and other nationally important institutions that are contributing significantly to nation-building. He also highlighted the recent collaboration between the Government of Odisha and the Global Financial Technology Network of Singapore as a step towards creating new opportunities for young talent.
Calling upon stakeholders to chart a roadmap for the future, Shri Pradhan urged greater private sector participation and innovative thinking to harness the region’s vast natural and human resources.
He concluded by appreciating the Ministry of External Affairs, CII and TEF for successfully organising the international conference and fostering meaningful dialogue on Eastern India’s development.
