Odisha signs MoUs to build future-ready workforce

Bhubaneswar: In another milestone towards making Odisha a hub of skilled talent, the Skill Development & Technical Education (SDTE) Department, Government of Odisha, today signed MoUs with three leading organizations in the country in the presence of department Minister Sampad Chandra Swain.
The MoUs with Global Access to Talent from India (GATI) Foundation, JustJobs Network, and the Footwear Design & Development Institute (FDDI) reaffirm the State’s commitment to expanding global opportunities, strengthening evidence-based skill policies, and creating pathways in emerging industries.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said, “Under the leadership of our Chief Minister, skill development has been placed at the heart of our journey towards Viksit Odisha. Our youth must be equipped not only for opportunities in our state and country but also to succeed on the global stage.”
He added, “These MoUs are more than partnerships, they are investments in the future of Odisha’s young people. We are not just creating jobs, we are shaping futures and building the confident, future-ready Odisha of tomorrow.”
The three collaborations bring distinct strengths:
• Global Mobility: Partnership with GATI Foundation will prepare Odisha’s youth for international markets, positioning the State as a hub of highly skilled global professionals.
• Evidence-Based Policy: Collaboration with JustJobs Network will strengthen research-led, inclusive skilling policies to align aspirations with opportunities.
• Sunrise Sector Skilling: With FDDI (Hyderabad Campus), Odisha will pioneer non-leather footwear skilling, opening new avenues of employment and entrepreneurship in a high-growth sector.
The MoUs were signed by Arnab Bhattacharya, CEO, GATI Foundation; Sabina Dewan, Founder & Executive Director, JustJobs Network; and Dr. Narasimhugari T. L. Reddy, Executive Director, FDDI Hyderabad Campus.
The event was also graced by Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, SDTE; Rashmita Panda, Director, Skill Development-cum-Employment & CEO, OSDA & WSC.
This reflects Odisha’s resolve to reach new frontiers in skilling, where global ambition, evidence-driven strategy, and innovative sectoral focus converge to empower its youth.