Focused on Advancing Green Hydrogen, Skills Training, and Infrastructure Growth in Odisha
On January 17, 2025, Singapore and the Indian state of Odisha formalised a groundbreaking partnership aimed at advancing green energy, skills development, and infrastructure. This collaboration, which spans multiple sectors, seeks to elevate Odisha’s expanding industries through knowledge transfer and sustainable innovations.
A key component of this partnership involves a collaborative training initiative between Singapore’s ITE Education Services (ITEES) and Odisha’s Skill Development and Technical Education Department (SD&TE). The programme, which is centred around the semiconductor industry, aims to equip young Indian professionals with the necessary skills to meet the growing demand for expertise in this sector.
The green energy domain also sees substantial progress through this partnership. A non-binding agreement was signed between Sembcorp Green Hydrogen India, part of Singapore’s Sembcorp Industries, and Odisha’s Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation. This agreement paves the way for the development of a green hydrogen production facility in Paradeep, Odisha, along with the creation of a green shipping corridor to support the sustainable fuel ecosystem.
The signing ceremony, held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, was attended by Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who is currently on a state visit to India. As part of the partnership, ITEES’ World Skill Centre, established in 2021, will expand its vocational training offerings to include new sectors such as hospitality, aerospace avionics, and visual merchandising. This expansion is set to further enhance Odisha’s skill development framework.
In addition, there will be joint research efforts on sustainable energy technologies involving Nanyang Technological University, the Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, and Odisha’s Energy Department. Further plans include establishing an industrial park and a fintech centre aimed at supporting growth in the insurtech sector.
This alliance follows the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable in August 2024, solidifying the longstanding strategic partnership between the two nations, which was also highlighted during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Singapore in September 2024.
Odisha’s ambitious goal of achieving a US$500 billion economy by 2036 aligns with its vision for significant economic development and is a crucial step towards contributing to India’s overarching ambition of becoming a fully developed nation by 2047.
