The Odisha Khadi and Village Industries Board (OK&VIB) has extended collaboration with its Goa counterpart for better and widespread sales of Odisha's khadi and village industries products nationally and internationally. Goa is the third State after Karnataka and Jharkhand to have collaboration with Odisha in this sector. Goa K&VIB president and MlA Benjamin Silva along with other representatives paid a two-day visit to the State on OK&VIB president Tejeswar Parida’s request.
Silva visited Puri district's world-famous handicraft (Chanduaa) and readymade garments production centre and a stone-carving unit near Dhauli on Thursday. Silva praised Odisha artisans highly for their expertise. Silva too visited the ongoing First National Odisha Khadi Utsav 2015 here in the evening. Attending the valedictory function held on their honour, Silva stressed on the growth of mutual collaboration between Goa and Odisha K&VIBs.
On this occasion, GK&VIB CEO Pushpa Arlekar focused upon importance of exchanging knowledge and artistic skills and establishment of closer business relationships between the two boards. GK&VIB Account Officer Rajendra Bhagat too attended. Chairing the session, OK&VIB president Parida said that mutual cooperation between the two boards would herald a new beginning and marks a historic milestone.
Stating that Goa is an international travel and tourism destination, Parida said Odisha's khadi, silk sarees, readymade garments, Dhokra products and tribal jewellery can be sold there and, thus, Odisha’s K&VI products can find nationwide and worldwide acceptance and popularity. It was decided that both the States' representative groups would visit the respective states and finalise the detailed plan in this regard.
Parida requested the GK&VIB to extend full cooperation for supporting more self-employment generation activities among Odisha's educated unemployed youth especially in the field of various services industries like tourism and hospitality. Witnessing Odissi dance, Goa Board representatives too stressed upon increasing cooperation in the cultural field.
On this occasion, Rotary Club, Bhubaneswar members led by Rushi Pattanaik felicitated the Goa representatives. Among others, MlA Purnachandra Swain, former Rajya Sabha member and noted freedom fighter Bhabani Charan Pattnaik, KV&IB member Soubhagya Rout and Secretary Remis Kerketa were present.