Bhubaneswar:Union petroleum and skill development minister Dharmendra Pradhan Saturday said that global tie-ups would be worked out to transform Odisha into a skill development and training hub.

Pradhan, who had an interactive session on skill initiatives with global companies after inaugurating the 22nd Refining Technology & Petrochemicals Meet, here on Saturday, said “We must ensure that people’s skills keep pace with technology.”

” Odisha is home to world-class training institutions like the Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology, and the Central Tool Room and Training Centre”, he said adding, “Odisha offers a very optimistic eco-system to develop it as a skill and knowledge-centric hub with the presence of premier academic institutions under the state and the private sector.”

Japanese Ambassador in India, Kenji Hiramatsu, who also graced the occasion,  said there was tremendous potential in Odisha for developing knowledge and skill-based industries with support from Japanese businesses.