Bhubaneswar: Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner, Kolkata, called on Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha in Lokseva Bhavan today.

The meeting focused on strengthening UK-Odisha collaborations in the wake of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement. Key areas of discussion included opportunities for enhanced bilateral trade and investment, with special emphasis on energy, infrastructure, skills development, critical minerals, and the sports sector.

Highlighting his strong connection with the region, the Deputy High Commissioner mentioned this was his 18th visit to Odisha and warmly praised the state’s rich culture, heritage and pace of growth.

Deputy CM and the Deputy High Commissioner also exchanged views on avenues to promote sustainable economic growth and deepen people-to-people ties between the UK and Odisha, in line with the vision of Viksit Odisha.

During his visit, Fleming was accompanied by senior officials from the British Deputy High Commission, including Sandip Chaudhuri, Head of Investment - Eastern India, Department for Business and Trade, Kolkata, and Swarnamayee Satapathy, Assistant Communications, Events & Visits Officer, Kolkata.

During the visit of the delegation Vishal Kumar Dev, Additional Chief Secretary, Energy, Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma, CMD OPTCL, Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav, Commissioner-cum-Secretary Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, and Satyapriya Rath, MD GRIDCO were present.