Collaboration to focus on skills training, green hydrogen production, and infrastructure development in Odisha.

Singapore’s companies and higher education institutions have partnered with the Indian state of Odisha to enhance capabilities in skills development, green energy, and infrastructure. The agreement was formalised on January 17, 2025, with a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening Odisha’s growing industries.

A significant aspect of the collaboration includes a joint training programme between Singapore’s ITE Education Services (ITEES) and Odisha’s Skill Development and Technical Education Department (SD&TE). This initiative will focus on the semiconductor sector, equipping young Indians with industry-specific skills to meet the rising demand in this field.

The green energy sector will also benefit from the partnership, with a non-binding agreement signed between Sembcorp Green Hydrogen India, a subsidiary of Singapore’s Sembcorp Industries, and Odisha’s Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation. The agreement aims to develop a green hydrogen production facility in Paradeep, Odisha, alongside efforts to create a green shipping corridor for sustainable fuel production.

The agreements were signed during a ceremony in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, attended by Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who is currently on a state visit to India. The World Skill Centre, a facility established by ITEES in 2021, will expand its vocational training programmes to cover sectors like hospitality, visual merchandising, and aerospace avionics. This move is expected to enhance Odisha’s skills development ecosystem.

Other agreements signed include collaborative research on sustainable energy technologies between Nanyang Technological University, the Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, and Odisha’s Energy Department. Additionally, there are plans for an industrial park in Odisha, as well as a fintech centre to foster growth in the insurance technology sector.

This partnership builds upon the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable held in August 2024 and further strengthens the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, as highlighted during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Singapore in September 2024.

Odisha’s ambitious economic plans aim for a US$500 billion economy by 2036, setting the stage for significant growth and development, with a vision to contribute greatly to India’s national goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.