India has long been recognized as a leading global exporter of agricultural products, contributing significantly to food security and international supply chains. With its vast agro-diversity, favourable climatic conditions, and a growing emphasis on quality and sustainability, India continues to be a major force in global agri trade. Within this broader landscape, Odisha is steadily emerging as a strong player in agricultural exports, supported by its natural strengths, strategic location, and evolving export infrastructure.

To build awareness among young professionals and future agri-entrepreneurs, an interactive session on Agri Exports and Logistics Management was recently organized for students pursuing Agri Business Management. The session aimed to equip students with practical knowledge of export ecosystems, supply chain dynamics, and market access opportunities, with a focus on promoting exports from Odisha and aligning with the larger vision of integrating the state into global trade networks.

The session featured a keynote presentation by Ms. Nimeshika Natarajan, Regional Director – Trade Promotion, World Trade Center Bhubaneswar, who highlighted the critical role of Odisha’s agricultural sector in contributing to India’s export growth. Her talk provided an overview of the state’s strengths in agri exports—particularly in seafood, rice, millets, spices, and organic produce—and emphasized the growing global demand for traceable, sustainable, and value-added products from India.

Ms. Natarajan explained the basic export procedures, including documentation, quality certifications, and compliance with international standards. She also emphasized the role of Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) such as APEDA, MPEDA, and FIEO in guiding exporters, facilitating trade promotion, and enabling market linkage support.

An important part of the discussion focused on Odisha’s export logistics infrastructure, where she outlined the strategic advantages of the air cargo facility at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), Bhubaneswar, particularly for handling perishable agri goods. Additionally, she elaborated on the sea cargo capabilities at Paradip Port, which provide robust maritime connectivity to key international markets.

The session also highlighted the critical role played by World Trade Center Bhubaneswar as the State Export Facilitation Cell (EFC) under the MSME Department, Government of Odisha. As the designated EFC, WTC Bhubaneswar actively works to support exporters in the state through policy advocacy, capacity building, market linkages, and handholding support. It acts as a single-window interface for entrepreneurs, MSMEs, and trade bodies, bridging the gap between government schemes and industry needs while also fostering export-oriented thinking at the grassroots level.

The event concluded with an engaging discussion, where students posed insightful questions about export readiness, agri value chains, financing options, and global market trends. Their active participation reflected a growing interest in leveraging Odisha’s agri potential for international trade and entrepreneurship.

This interactive session served not only as a learning platform but also as a call to action—encouraging the next generation of agri-business leaders to actively participate in Odisha’s export journey. WTC Bhubaneswar remains committed to facilitating trade, building awareness, and strengthening Odisha’s presence in global markets through continued collaboration with academia, industry, and government.

The event was held on Thursday, 25^th September 2025 at Centre for Agri-Management, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar.