Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday said Odisha would be number one region in the world by 2036 when the 100th year of formation of separate Odisha State would be celebrated.
Pradhan was speaking at a youth gathering of the BJP under the theme “Odisha to progress, youth to progress’ held here on the occasion of Utkal Divas. “In view of vast possibilities, reformation and intellectual power, Odisha would rise to number one region in the world. Nobody can break it,” opined Pradhan.
He said Odia intellectuals are now leading different sectors in the world. Systems in America can’t run without Odia scientists, doctors and Silicon Valley software professionals. If Odia plumbers will stop working in Delhi, water supply to residences of the Prime Minister and the President would be stopped. Odia people are the most trusted people of Gujarat diamond traders,” Pradhan said.
He said the Odia culture still prevails in the south-east Asian countries since the days of Sadhab Puas (Odia traders) who had been visiting them for trade purposes.
He said the number of youth population in the 18-35 age group is more than the population of Switzerland and Singapore put together. “The willing power of the Odia youths will make Odisha number one,” hoped Pradhan.