Naveen Inaugurates ‘International Craft Summit’

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday inaugurated the first-ofits-kind craft summit featuring a  confluence of pioneering craftsmen, culture, and art enthusiasts at Jajpur to promote  Odisha as a global hotspot of  tourists. International delegates from 15  countries have arrived in Jajpur to  engage with local artisans and  other stakeholders at the crafts  summit. Four UN agencies and  five UNESCO Creative Cities  have partnered with the Jajpur  district to realise this ambitious  and forward-looking event on  behalf of the Government of  Odisha.
Joining the programme on a  virtual platform, the Chief Minister said it is a historic  occasion for Odisha. He said,  “Jajpur was the ancient capital of  Odisha. With its existing assets of  religious tourism, urban tourism and Buddhist tourism, it has the potential to be a major tourist hub. The cultural  heritage of Jajpur is reflected in its vibrant art forms.” Speaking on the cultural  splendor of the state, the Chief Minister said, “Odisha is an illustrious land of
immaculate art and crafts. Our civilisational journey is a journey of our artistic  culture. The artistic skills of our craftsmen are reflected in numerous ways. You can  find it in our temples, our sculptures, Buddhist shrines, hand-woven clothes, patta  paintings, wood works, metal works…… everywhere. Every village and every lane  of Odisha exhibits some form of art or craft. The soul of Odisha lives in our art, craft,  music and culture.” He said that the Government of  Odisha is making concerted  efforts to develop Odisha as a  global hotspot of tourists, provide livelihoods and employment opportunities, and  make the state attractive to  investors. Describing the initiatives, he
said, “We are developing mechanisms for holistic development of our tourism,  handloom and handicrafts sector. We have put in place  various policies such as State  Tourism Policy, Handicraft Policy, Apparel and Technical  Textiles Policy. We are also  opening art galleries at different places, organising heritage walks and taking many  other initiatives to promote  tourism and culture.” Sc i e n c e & Te c h n o l o g y Minister Ashok Panda, Rural Development Minister Priti Ranjan Ghadai, and Handloom, Textile & Handicrafts Minister Rita Sahu participated in the event. They highlighted the cultural heritage of Odisha and its significance in the modern age. Junhi Han, Chief of the UNESCO Culture Sector for South Asian countries, appreciated the efforts for the promotion of local art, artists and artisans. Renowned Bollywood actor Dia Mirza also attended. Jajpur Collector welcomed the guests and Zilla Parishad executive officer presented the vote of thanks.

About Post Author